John Fury has broken his silence after his son’s second loss of his career and subsequent retirement from boxing.
Tyson Fury, 36, suffered back-to-back losses to Ukrainian Oleksandr Usyk, with the latest fight coming in December last year.
Despite judges voting 116-112 unanimously in favour of the Ukrainian in their second bout, Fury was quick to set the record that he had been ‘robbed’ in both fights, where he felt he deserved to win.
Fury even branded the loss as a ‘Christmas gift’ for Usyk, maintaining that had had won both fights.
Tyson Fury claimed Oleksandr Usyk's victory over him in December was a 'Christmas gift'
PA
It appears his father, John, is back in Tyson’s corner in his first interview since his son’s defeat in December.
Fury, 59, spoke to SecondsOut: “Well, first and foremost he has his belts stolen off him, didn’t he?
“What can you say? When someone’s paid you a shedload of money, they seem to resent letting you stay champion as well, don’t they?
“For my money, they probably didn’t want to pay him the same money again”, Fury continued, “[They] probably couldn’t afford to pay Tyson the same money again if they’d let him remain as champion. For me, he won both fights.
JUST IN: Xabi Alonso confirms Bayer Leverkusen exit with blockbuster return to Real Madrid on the cards
John Fury (pictured) at son Tyson Fury's first fight against Oleksandr Usyk
PA
“They think ‘we’ll rob you today, let the dust settle, we’ll offer you a few more quid later on and get you back it’. Guess what? You can’t do that with him now, cause he’s had enough.”
Tyson’s father had been involved in Fury’s first fight against Usyk in May and was present in his son’s corner for the bout, in a move that was criticised by fans due to mixed messages from Fury’s team and father.
He had also been embroiled in controversy prior to the fight, however, as video emerged of Fury headbutting a member of Usyk’s team.
While no charges were pressed, Fury was seen with a stream of blood from his forehead and claimed they ‘disrespected’ his son.
READ MORE: England cricket players to fly home from India TODAY as war with Pakistan escalates
In his son’s second fight, however, his father played no part in the corner or the build-up of the fight - a stark contrast from his participation in May.
Fury explained his absence whilst also criticising his son’s shape for the second fight: “The second time I never got involved at all because of my own personal reasons, which I’m not going to go into.
“Tyson could’ve been in a lot better shape, let’s put it that way. Have a look at him when he’s in there - if you put the work in, hard work, you just don’t look like that.”
Fury continued: “I know he’s always been a little overweight, but you’ve got to look like you’ve done something.
LATEST SPORTS NEWS:
John Fury claimed his son 'could
PA
“His body didn’t represent work. What I call work and his team calls work is two different things.”
It was a scathing review, but Fury followed his previous comments up, reiterating it was a ‘robbery’ in Riyadh, exclaiming his son was the ‘biggest ticket seller’ and that without Tyson Fury, there are ’no dance partners’.
Fury refused to go into further detail as to his absence in December, but fans have speculated his aggressive behaviour prior to Tyson’s first fight with Usyk could have something to do with it.
Fans were also quick to have their verdict on Fury’s claims of a ‘robbery’, with one fan on X saying: “Objectively, the first fight was close and could've gone either way. Not so in the 2nd fight - Usyk won clearly.”
Another fan simply wrote: “I do not agree with this.”
The general consensus is not only that Fury lost the fights fairly, but also that he could be retired from the sport for good.
The former world champion has hinted at returning to the sport with a potential Usyk trilogy or a highly-anticipated all-English clash with long-standing rival Anthony Joshua, but none of these teasers have come to fruition.
