John Fury has revealed his relationship with Tyson Fury is “completely destroyed” and believes his son is “past his best” ahead of next month’s comeback fight against Arslanbek Makhmudov.
Fury is preparing to return to the ring for the first time since his rematch defeat to Oleksandr Usyk in December 2024, having initially been beaten by the Ukrainian in May that year to miss out on the undisputed heavyweight championship.
His dad John has long been a familiar face in Fury’s corner, occasionally drawing the wrong headlines for his controversial behaviour at press conferences and during fight weeks.
“My relationship with Tyson is destroyed’, Fury told Playbook Boxing powered by Betway. “Boxing destroyed it completely. I’ll say it on camera: I’ve never taken £10 off him in my life and I never will.
“I don’t want Tyson’s money and I don’t need Tyson’s money. Whatever he’s got, good luck to him. But, don’t forget who built his story when he was a kid. He didn’t build it himself, did he? Me, his father.”
In the same interview Fury is highly critical of his son’s trainer SugarHill Steward, questioning his advice during the first fight against Usyk.
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Fury playfully tickled Makhmudov at the face-off ahead of their much-anticipated fight in April
Fury took three years out of the ring following his victory over Wladimir Klitschko in 2015 before returning to ignite what would become an enthralling trilogy with Deontay Wilder, against whom he was held to a draw before twice stopping the hard-hitting American.
His father believes three physically-gruelling contests against Wilder mean Fury’s best days are behind him.
“I think he’s past his best,” Fury added. “I’m a no-filter kind of guy – I say it how I see it. I love him, but there are too many people patting him on the back and telling him things that aren’t true, building him up like he’s invincible. He’s not and he hasn’t been for a while.
“Tyson has been gone since the Deontay Wilder fights, they finished him. Wilder completely done him. He’s not got a leg underneath him. He’s took a lot away from Tyson. Makhmudov is a problem for Tyson. I am the first one to say it.
“Listen, I understand now that Tyson is testing himself. But, I can tell you now, his legs aren’t there anymore. I understand the only way he will believe that and see that is when the first bell rings.”
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Fury believes Oleksandr Usyk will be ‘begging’ him for a trilogy fight by the end of this year.
Usyk recently talked up the prospect of a trilogy fight against Fury as he edges towards the end of his career, though John is insistent the result will remain the same.
“Nothing’s gonna change,” he said. “Tyson’s getting weaker and Usyk’s getting stronger.”
Sky Sports News has approached Tyson Fury’s camp for comment.
