Tyson Fury named after boxing legend Mike Tyson, his father John Fury explains why

When Tyson Fury was born on August 12, 1988, Mike Tyson was ruling heavyweight division. Back n it was crazy to think that Fury would ever follow Mike’s footsteps as he was born three months premature and weighed just 1lb (around 450g). According to his far John Fury, young Gypsy King h a very slim chance of survival, but he proved doctors wrong.

John Fury said that when doctors gave in s news about Tyson after his birth, he told doctors that his son will survive and will go on to become one of greatest boxers of all time. “He won’t be small, I said he’ll be nearly 7ft tall, 20 stone, next heavyweight champion of world,” he told doctors. John was proved correct as Gypsy King defeated death before going on to become a boxer, just like his far and his namesake Mike Tyson.

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When asked why he kept his older son’s name, Tyson, John Fury told ITV that name was fitting for him as “he’s fought hard to become a person living in this world”. He said Mike Tyson was also ruling sport at that point and he wanted his son to do same after growing up. “Tyson Luke Fury – that’s his name,” John Fury told his wife and family at hospital.

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John Fury’s dream came true

Not just Tyson Fury cheated death, he also went on to become heavyweight champion, just like his far predicted. Tyson Fury is currently undefeated in sport (30-0) and recently won WBC title from Deontay Wilder in February 2020. Though his next opponent is yet to be confirmed, he’s expected to fight unified champion Anthony Joshua in future, with bout being labelled ‘biggest bout’ in British boxing history.

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Mike Tyson on Tyson Fury vs Anthony Joshua

Over years, Gypsy King has earned respect of his idol Mike Tyson, who recently called Fury a “messiah”. While talking to Eddie Hearn on ‘No Passion, No Point’ podcast 54-year-old took Tyson’s side when asked to predict Tyson Fury vs Anthony Joshua. Mike Tyson hailed AJ as a “masterful puncher,” but claimed that unified champion is too predictable to beat his fellow Briton.

“He’s a masterful puncher but you can see his punches coming. That’s just a recipe for a disaster when fighting Tyson Fury telegraphing your punches to a guy who’s 6ft 7ins,” he ded.

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