By Scott Gilfoid: John Fury is volunteering to face the former heavyweight champion, Mike Tyson, in his charity exhibition match. The 55-year-old Fury (8-4-1, 1 KOs) is the father of current WBC heavyweight champion Tyson ‘The Gypsy King’ Fury.
It’s unlikely that Tyson will agree to use John Fury as an opponent because he needs an opponent that is reasonably good and not someone that will fall over immediately.
John Fury would be a bad choice for Tyson to fight on so many levels. First off, John didn’t do enough in his career to deserve to share the same ring with a talent like Mike Tyson. You can argue that John would even be out of his league against Eric (Butterbean) Esch (77-10-4) in an exhibition match.
The problem with John facing Tyson is the fight would likely end too quickly, and that would upset a lot of boxing fans. Likely, former IBF/WBA/WBC heavyweight champion Tyson (50-6, 44 Ks) would smash John Fury to bits with the first punch he lands, and the fans would be furious at the contest ending so early.
If this were a wrestling contest for a shouting match, then John Fury would be perfect. He could out-wrestle Tyson or out-shout him, but unfortunately, this is boxing, and John would be utterly ill-equipped to take on a Mike Tyson.
John Fury would be a poor choice for Mike Tyson
It doesn’t matter that the fight would be for charity. People want to see a proper battle, and they wouldn’t be getting that if Tyson were to use journeyman John Fury as his opponent.
‘Iron’ Mike Tyson, 53, wants to return to the ring for a charity exhibition match soon, and his opponent hasn’t been named yet. But it’s safe to say; Mike won’t be fighting a journeyman level fighter with a dreadful record like John Fury’s. It wouldn’t be sporting.
Although John is a good talker and incredibly intense, his talents as a fighter during his eight-year professional career were limited. For example, these are the guys that John Fury lost to during his career:
- Steve Garber (20-25-1, 11 KOs) – KO 4 in 1991
- Henry Akinwande – KO 3 in 1991
- Neil Malpass (28-19-1, 18 KOs) – 10 rounds pts – in 1989
- David Hopkins (2-5-1, 1 KOs) – draw 6 in 1989
- Adam Fogerty – pts 4 in 1986
“I’m looking at fighting Mike Tyson,” said John Fury to Manchester Fight Club. “Mike is making a comeback. But let me tell you something; Mike Tyson is worth doing charity work because he’s a proper king of a champion. He’s a proper man tried and tested,” said Fury.
John Fury will be turning 56-years-old on May 22, and he hasn’t fought in 25 years since he was blown out of the water in four rounds by journeyman Steve Garber in 1995.
Losing to a low-level fighter as Garber tells you all you need to know about John. The talent was never there from day one, and he’s not worth Tyson using as an opponent for his charity fight.
What would Tyson have to gain in fighting John Fury?
“I’ll fight Mike Tyson. He’s expecting a comeback. I know Mike mentioned my boy’s [Tyson Fury] name every five minutes,” said John.
“Here I am. John Fury is hiding from no man, not even the king of the old men, Mike Tyson. I will fight Mike Tyson because I will not be denied. And I will die to fight. I will DIE before I give in,” said Fury.
