The boxing world has seen some legendary callouts, but none more unexpected than John Fury challenging his son’s namesake, the former undisputed heavyweight champion, Mike Tyson. Though Tyson is set to face Jake Paul on November 15 in Texas, he had previously agreed to a showdown with John Fury—a fight that stirred excitement among boxing fans and seemed almost destined to take place.
Tyson, now 58, will enter the ring for the first time since his 2020 exhibition match with Roy Jones Jr. His upcoming fight with Paul is the culmination of a long wait, having been postponed due to Tyson’s ulcer flare-up. Yet, prior to arranging his bout with the young YouTuber, Tyson entertained a far different challenge. John Fury, father of Tyson Fury, had thrown down the gauntlet, daring Tyson to settle their rivalry in the ring.
Fury Sr., a former boxer who named his son Tyson after his idol, has long admired the man known as the “Baddest Man on the Planet.” During the 2023 build-up to his son Tyson Fury’s fight against MMA legend Francis Ngannou, John Fury couldn’t resist addressing Tyson directly. He confidently predicted that his son would triumph over Ngannou, adding, “And if I’m wrong, me and you will fight straight after.” Tyson, laughing and roused by the challenge, responded enthusiastically, saying, “All day, baby!”
In the end, Tyson Fury won his match against Ngannou, and the potential father-versus-idol clash was left unrealized. John Fury, though 59 and retired from the ring since 1995, expressed bitter disappointment at being sidelined in favor of the younger Paul. He voiced his discontent in an interview, remarking, “I’m the same age as him. What the hell is wrong with him? Even His Excellency Turki was shocked Tyson didn’t want to fight me.”
The irony of the situation didn’t go unnoticed: while John Fury wanted to take on the fighter who inspired his son’s name, Tyson opted instead for the much younger and less experienced Paul. But John Fury, ever undaunted, declared he was still open to fighting Tyson, saying, “You can get killed, can’t you? But I’m willing to risk my life for the right fight. The right fight is him, Mike Tyson.”
With Tyson and Paul’s fight looming, fans can only wonder if John Fury and Tyson’s paths will ever cross in the ring. For now, Tyson’s focus remains on his high-profile fight with Paul, though the idea of an all-out brawl with Fury Sr. continues to tantalize fans.
