John Fury, father of heavyweight champion Tyson Fury, has openly criticized his son`s coaching staff, asserting that his intervention in the corner was crucial in preventing Tyson from being knocked out by Oleksandr Usyk.
Tyson Fury, aged 36, experienced his first professional defeat, losing his undefeated record and WBC belt to the 38-year-old Usyk via a points decision last May. Fury notably came close to being stopped in the ninth round of the fight.
Despite facing some criticism himself for his corner work immediately following the bout, John Fury told SecondsOut that he was the sole reason his son wasn`t knocked out.
Well, if it wasn`t for me in his corner he`d be knocked out. Simple as that.
He elaborated, stating that Tyson was receiving poor instructions, specifically regarding movement to the left against the southpaw Usyk. John, a southpaw himself, stressed this was a critical error. He added,
He was listening to ill-advice, too many people in the corner and I`m his father, if it wasn`t for me, he not only stayed in the fight he won the 11th, he shared the tenth because his legs were gone in the tenth.
John firmly believes his actions kept Tyson in the challenging ninth round, describing his son`s survival as a “miracle” in that moment.
He was a miracle man to get out the ninth round but it was me who kept him in there. If it had been left to them, he`d have been knocked out.
John directed particular criticism towards Tyson`s head trainer, Sugarhill Steward, nephew of the legendary Emanuel Steward, who has been working with Tyson since 2020 alongside assistant Andy Lee. John, a former boxer, argued that Sugarhill lacks sufficient practical fighting experience and questioned his pedigree as a top trainer.
He was listening to people that haven`t got any fighting experience. And at the end of the day, if he was that good of a trainer, Sugarhill, his uncle Emanuel would have left him the top job, wouldn`t he? He would`ve left him the full business, Jonathan Banks ended up with it.
He continued, questioning why other prominent fighters associated with the Kronk gym legacy didn`t work with Sugarhill:
Why didn`t Tommy Hearns have Sugarhill? Why didn`t Lennox Lewis have him? Why didn`t all the other Kronk fighters have him? There`s a reason for it. Why do all these British fighters have him and sack him? Because he`s incapable and I`m the first to say it.
Despite his professional critique, John clarified his personal relationship with Sugarhill:
I don`t mind the man as a man, I`m talking on boxing terms only. The man is a very nice man, he`s never done me no harm in any way shape or form.
However, he concluded his assessment by claiming Sugarhill and the team are too soft with Tyson and are influenced by the fighter himself, speculating that financial dependence might be a factor.
But, we`re talking boxing politics here and they just don`t work Tyson hard enough, he`s too soft with him and Tyson`s telling him what to do half the time. And like I say, they`re not going to tell him he`s wrong because they need the money.
Sugarhill Steward`s coaching resume includes work with fighters like Ben Whittaker and Lawrence Okolie, although his relationships with them eventually ended. He was mentored by his late uncle Emanuel, famed for training greats such as Lennox Lewis and Wladimir Klitschko. After Emanuel`s passing in 2012, his stable, including Klitschko, was taken over by former fighter Jonathan Banks. Sugarhill has also worked with former world champions Anthony Dirrell and Adonis Stevenson.
Curiously, Tyson Fury himself had previously credited Sugarhill with enhancing his punching power, which was evident in his two stoppage victories over Deontay Wilder.
Tyson Fury later faced Usyk again in December, losing once more on points, a fight where his father John was not in his corner. Tyson announced his retirement about a month after this second loss.
However, amid ongoing rumors of a potential bout against Anthony Joshua, 35, Fury was recently seen training with Sugarhill again at his gym in Morecambe, signaling a possible return to boxing.
Oliver Croft