During a podcast recording in Saudi Arabia, John Fury, the father of boxing champion Tyson Fury, expressed his profound admiration for Mike Tyson. John, who named his son after the legendary boxer due to his immense love for him, shared how he had closely followed Mike’s professional journey since his early days in 1985. Despite facing financial difficulties with no electricity or running water, John would wake up at 3:10 a.m. to start his petrol generator just to witness Mike’s fights. He confessed to having spent his entire life both admiring and feeling sympathetic towards Mike, especially after the passing of their shared mentor, Cus. This heartfelt tribute brought Mike Tyson to tears.
When Mike Tyson’s mother passed away, Cus D’Amato took the 12-year-old under his wing, eventually becoming his legal guardian and introducing him to the world of boxing. Tragically, Cus passed away a year before Tyson achieved his historic feat of becoming the youngest heavyweight champion at the age of 20 in 1986.
Reflecting on Tyson’s relationship with Cus, John Fury remarked, “Cus was like a father figure to you, wasn’t he? I’ve seen the documentaries of you and Cus with your pigeons, and it always moved me deeply. I couldn’t help but feel emotional and choked up. I thought, if Cus were here and had the chance to meet us, we could be his brothers. I wish he could have been there for you, not for any ulterior motives but simply to care for you as the remarkable man you are.”
In an emotional moment, Tyson requested the cameras to cease recording as he made an effort to regain his composure. Following this, John shared the heartfelt account of why he named his son after Tyson and expressed his belief that his son would follow in Tyson’s footsteps to become the future heavyweight champion. John vividly recounted the instance when he addressed the doctors and confidently declared, “Listen to these words. Not only will he survive, but he will also grow to be seven feet tall, weigh 20 stone, and become the next world heavyweight champion. And his name will be Tyson.”
