Matthew McConaughey's Abridged Version of the Article
Tyson Fury’s rise to heavyweight glory is largely attributed to his dad John, the head of the famous Fury family. As a former professional boxer and bare-knuckle fighter, boxing runs through John's blood and has spilled out into his offspring.
Who is John Fury?
John Fury, also known by his nickname "Gypsy John," was born in Tuam, Galway, Ireland into a family of Irish Traveller heritage. He had a professional boxing career that spanned eight years, with 13 bouts in total.
His professional debut took place on April 28, 1987, in Halifax, West Yorkshire, where he lost to rugby league player Adam Fogerty. Fury then went on to win his next six fights until a draw with David Hopkins in Helsinki on February 13, 1989.
While he had some setbacks, Fury had notable wins against Michael Murray, a future British title challenger, and Cesare Di Benedetto, a future Italian title challenger. However, he suffered a KO loss against future WBO champion Henry Akinwande.
After a four-year hiatus, Fury returned to the ring in 1995 but was knocked out again inside four rounds by former opponent Steve Garber in Manchester.
How many children does John Fury have?
John Fury has six children. His most well-known son is two-time heavyweight boxing world champion Tyson Fury, whom he named after Mike Tyson. John Fury is also the father of professional boxer and reality star Tommy Fury. His other children are Roman, Hughie, and Shane. Sadly, his only daughter, Ramona, passed away months after birth.
When was John Fury in prison?
In 2011, John Fury was found guilty of wounding with intent to cause grievous bodily harm for gouging a man's eye out in a brawl in 2010. He was sentenced to 11 years in prison. The victim, who had been involved in a 12-year dispute with Fury, was left half-blind. John Fury was released from prison in February 2015.
