Peter Fury plotting a heavyweight dynasty
Top trainer Peter Fury has already guided his nephew Tyson to boxing glory and believes son Hughie is ready to follow suit.
Tyson gatecrashed the heavyweight elite with his shock victory over Wladimir Klitschko last November, taking his WBA, WBO, and IBF titles in Dusseldorf, Germany.
He became Britain’s eighth world champion in the top-weight division, ending Klitschko’s 10-year unbeaten run with a unanimous points decision.
The mastermind behind that resounding upset, Peter is confident that Hughie can join his cousin Tyson at boxing’s top table in 2016.
“There’s no more easy fights, he’s three years as a professional, he’s 18-0 with 10 KOs, he’s 21 years of age and he’s now ready to step up,” Fury Sr. told me.
Quality fights
“People say he’s, too young, I don’t care what anybody says, I do what I think is best. He is ready for any top-10 fighter in the world – he’s ready for a world title shot if it comes. So we’re ready – he will be taking good fights.
“We sent the contracts out and agreed on a figure, but they came back and asked us for four times the amount they’d agreed only a week before”
“My goal for Hughie is to have him fighting as many good fighters we can possibly get for him, to mix in high-quality circles. That’s what we want for Hughie – no more domestic fights, no more journeyman fights – it’s time for him to step up and have quality fights.”
Hennessy Sport, Fury’s promoters, are currently searching for a high-ranked contender who’s willing to take on the 21-year-old.
But Fury Sr. expressed his frustration with boxing’s byzantine politics and how he feels it is delaying his son’s progress in the ring.
“We tried negotiating with the Russian, Andrey Fedosov, who’s ranked number seven by the WBA and WBO, and 15th by the IBF,” he explained.
“We sent the contracts out and agreed on a figure, but they came back and asked us for four times the amount they’d agreed only a week before. If they hadn’t messed us around we’d be fighting him on February 26th.”
Big challenge
By comparison, London 2012 Olympic gold medallist Anthony Joshua, who has a record of 15-0 with 15 KOs after turning pro three years ago at the age of 24, has secured his first world title fight with reigning IBF champion Charles Martin on April 9th at London’s O2 Arena.
“I’m looking at fighters in the top 10 or 15 – they should be number 30, 40 or 50”
With the pair being similar heights and both having perfect records, Hughie Fury v Joshua would be a fascinating pairing. Fury Sr says it would be a big challenge for his son, but one he would be up for.
“Every fighter is different. Joshua’s talented. I’m not going to judge anything. You never can tell, styles make fights,” he said. “Joshua’s a good fighter, he’s got excellent power. It would make for a great fight. We’re confident in Hughie’s ability, but you never know until you get in there.”
Unfortunately, as Fury Sr. reflects, the machinations of boxing’s movers and shakers mean so many longed-for match-ups end up never happening.
Rankings
“Boxing’s politics is a load of shit, businessmen get behind it and massage the ratings,” said Fury Sr.
“There are fighters in the top 10 that I don’t believe should be there. I’m looking at fighters in the top 10 or 15 – they should be number 30, 40 or 50 – it’s only because of who they are and who’s backing them that they get to where they are.
“There are aspects he can improve on. I believe we only saw 60, 65 percent of Tyson’s full capability [in the first Klitschko fight]”
“It’s all about leveraging your position. Now people are asking for a fortune to face Hughie, because they think ‘I don’t want to lose my ranking, because if I lose my ranking I could miss out’. They’ve got to protect those rankings. I don’t give a flying toss for them.
“It shows you what rankings are – well, they are Fedosov. There you are there’s your ranking. He’s ranked number seven against a guy that’s 45 on [the] Boxrec [website], my son. Guess what? They don’t want to take it, so that says enough on rankings.”
Improvement
Whilst Hughie Fury waits for his shot at the big time, cousin Tyson, 27, is already there – and Peter Fury says he expects a full-on battle, and a stoppage victory, when his nephew’s rematch against Wladimir Klitschko takes place.
Even though there has been a significant improvement in Tyson’s boxing ability in the last four years under his uncle’s expert tutelage, Fury Sr. believes there’s more to come from the world champion.
“There are aspects he can improve on. I believe we only saw 60, 65 percent of Tyson’s full capability [in the first Klitschko fight].
“So we will be working on a lot of different things to get the job done.” He pauses and adds with a smile “…but I can’t say what those things are…”
Follow Peter Fury on Twitter @peterfury