Deontay Wilder vs Tyson Fury: Brit’s father expresses concerns about son’s fitness and reveals truth about not attending LA fight
John Fury believes his son doesn’t need to be fully fit to win the WBC heavyweight title
Ahead of his world title fight against Deontay Wilder, Tyson Fury’s father, John Fury, says his son is not currently “fighting fit.”
Fury Sr insists Tyson is still the favourite regardless and does not need to be at 100 per cent to overcome the champion when they meet in Los Angeles on December 1, though conceded he would have preferred to see him take more tune-ups beforehand.
“It wouldn’t have been the way I’d have done it," John Fury told , "I’d have liked to have a bit more time, a bit more ring work.
“The only way you’re gonna get fighting fit is to fight.
“He’s had two comeback fights against mediocre opposition and he’s lost the ten stone.
“It’s a concern at this point for me because he’s up against a formidable champion who does punch hard.
“I believe if he’d had a few more fights it would have been 80/20 in Tyson’s favour, but now it’s a 50/50. It’s anybody’s fight.”
When asked about for his opinion on Wilder, Fury’s father praised the American, yet added that he has not achieved what Wladimir Klitschko had when Tyson beat him.
He believes the champion could defeat his son due the fact he is not fully fit, however insists the ‘Gypsy King’ is still the favourite.
John Fury continued: “I’m giving him [Wilder] a chance because Tyson is not match fit, he’s not fighting fit anyway, but he doesn’t need to be.
“He’s not built of the same stuff other people are, he can do what the normal man can’t do.
“I’m just hoping that he can keep it all under control, box intelligently, and just do his stuff that he normally does and that should be enough.
“No-one can write Tyson off, he’s beaten Wladimir Klitschko and played with a multi world champion. He’s gotta be the favourite.”
Regarding his own recent issues and inability to attend the fight, John Fury dismissed reports that he had been denied a visa to travel to the US.
Fury Sr instead revealed he never applied for permission to go, as he knew in advance that he would be rejected due to his past criminal conviction for gouging a man’s eye out.
“I didn’t try, that’s propaganda," he continued.
"I never applied because I knew what the answer was going to be.
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“I know with my conviction that I was never ever gonna be able to enter the country. So I never bothered.
“I never asked anybody to do anything for me. I took it like a man, on the chin. I accept my current position and I’m just getting on with it."
Anthony Joshua, meanwhile, has suggested he will fight the winner of the LA bout. The WBC belt is the only one AJ needs to complete his collection and become undisputed heavyweight champion and he posted on Twitter: "Unified the heavyweight division twice in 22 fights. Watch me become Undisputed Heavyweight Champion in 2019! Stay Hungry."