When Tyson Fury was born in 1988, a certain heavyweight champion ruled supreme as the undisputed king of the division.
Back then it seemed ludicrous to think the young ‘Gypsy King’ would ever follow in the footsteps of Mike Tyson as he was three months premature and weighed just 1lb.
Fury was given slim chances of survival by doctors, but proved he was a fighter from birth.
He told Fight Hub TV in January: “I was born eight weeks premature and I died three times when I was a baby and I weighed in at one pound in weight.
“I was born in 1988, my dad was a huge boxing fan and he was also a professional boxer so he called me after his greatest ever fighter Mike.
“He called me Tyson, it was my dad’s favourite fighter was Mike Tyson.
“Mike Tyson’s heyday was in 1988 – very fitting that I should go on to be the heavyweight champion of the world.
“Odds against that would be very stacked high, not in your favour. It’s a very interesting story but very achievable!”
Despite Fury’s assertion that the odds of him following in Iron Mike’s footsteps were not high, his father, John Fury, always believed in his success.
Describing the moment his son was born premature, Fury Snr explained to ITV: “The doctor said he probably won’t make it, he’s very weak.
“I said to all them doctors, he won’t be small, I said he’ll be nearly 7ft tall, 20 stone, the next heavyweight champion of the world.”
John was proved correct as the baby Tyson battled through months of adversity to survive, before then going on to become a boxer as his father and namesake both did before him.
John concluded: “I thought, ‘There’s only one name fitting for him, he’s fought hard to become a person living in this world.’
“Mike Tyson was the best in the world at that time.
“Tyson Luke Fury – that’s his name.”
Fury’s life eventually came full circle in October when Tyson joined his rival Francis Ngannou’s camp and ultimately helped the Cameroonian KO artist push the Gypsy King to a controversial split decision.
Fury Snr has made numerous call-outs to Tyson in a bid to lure the American into the ring, including in person when the pair met in Saudi Arabia at son Tommy Fury’s own meeting with Jake Paul last year.
But his son is focused on emulating the Baddest Man on the Planet’s greatest accomplishment by becoming undisputed heavyweight world champion.
Fury and Oleksandr Usyk will fight this weekend to unite the division, with talkSPORT broadcasting a live watchalong on Saturday, May 18.
News Summary:
- Tyson Fury is named after Mike Tyson and heavyweight champion’s dad John explains why
- Check all news and articles from the latest Boxing updates.