Boxing
Peter Fury Declares Hughie Fury as the Future of Heavyweight Boxing: 'It's Time for Fresh Blood
Peter Fury declares his son, Hughie Fury, as the future of heavyweight boxing, warning the division is at risk of going "stale" without new talent.
Image Credits: James Chance/Getty Images
Peter Fury believes his son Hughie is the heir apparent to Oleksandr Usyk, Anthony Joshua and cousin, Tyson after warning heavyweight boxing is in danger of going “stale.”
Heavyweight Division at Risk of Going 'Stale’
Aged 29, Hughie is preparing for his third fight since overcoming a series of health issues after being named on the card of a show in Sheffield next month.
Although Tyson and Usyk will meet again in Saudi Arabia in December after the Ukrainian won their encounter for the undisputed crown earlier this year - three months after Joshua faces new IBF champion Daniel Dubois at Wembley Stadium - Peter, who is overseeing Hughie’s comeback, thinks the sport’s most glamorous division needs another fabled fighter to emerge.
With Usyk, Tyson and Joshua all in their thirties, Peter insisted Hughie is perfectly positioned to spearhead a new generation of big men.
I think it’s gone stale. People are looking for fresh blood.
Peter Fury
“I’m very excited because it’s time for us to step into that mix and get it on with them.”
“Once we’ve got this fight out of the way, we’ve been promised a big fight towards the end of October or November. Hughie is going to start his full assault towards the end of this year.”
Big Fights Await as Hughie Fury Targets the Top of the Division
Suggesting Hughie has the pedigree to force himself onto one of Turki Alalshikh’s Riyadh Season shows, Peter continued: “A lot of people see the same fighters fighting off against each other. So, it’s good to see fresh fights getting made.
“The more people in the mix, the better. The more the Saudis have got involved, the more these top-drawer fights are happening so, when I say stale, I mean the heavyweights need fresh people in them.”
“Not just the same four or five and Hughie will very quickly be in and amongst them.”
Joe Joyce’s conqueror Zhilei Zhang and Martin Bakole, who recently stunned the previously unbeaten Jared Anderson on Turki Alalshikh’s first overseas show, have all been mooted as possible future opponents for Hughie.
Image Credits: James Chance/Getty Images
Based in Manchester, he has won both of his outings since receiving the all-clear to box again after solving the allergy problem which forced him to spend nearly three years out of the ring.
Hughie, who lost a split decision to then WBO king Joseph Parker at the beginning of his professional career, has recorded 28 wins from 31 professional outings with 16 of those victories coming inside the distance.
Ready to Mix It Up with the Best in the World
“Whatever the promoters want to put on and can afford to put on, we’ll take,” said Peter, who trained Tyson to his world title triumph over Wladimir Klitschko in 2015.
“Okay, the ones at the very top are all tied up in fights at the moment but if they do become available, then we’ll take them.”
“We don’t want the ones who are behind Hughie, who are trying to build their careers. We want the ones who are up there.”
“It’s all in God’s timing,” Peter added. “Whatever happens, you accept it for what it is and get on with it.”
“Hughie has ironed out all of his issues, which were mainly to do with allergies, and is totally focused.”
“It’s not as if he’s been laid down doing nothing for three years either. We’ve had a couple of warm-up fights, and the engine is well oiled. “
“People are about to find out just how good Hughie is.”
Neil has been a journalist for longer than he'd care to remember, having written for national newspapers and respected publications for over 25 years. For the last three years he has worked freelance for BBC Sport, working on the production desk as a sub-editor and also as a writer, covering a whole range of sports.