John Fury says relationship with son Tyson is 'completely destroyed' in emotional interview

In his most emotional interview to date, John Fury has revealed that his relationship with son Tyson is "completely destroyed" after it deteriorated to the point of no return.

On the evening of April 11, Tyson Fury will make his much-anticipated return to the ring when he takes on hard-hitting Russian heavyweight Arslanbek Makhmudov at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium.

'The Gypsy King' has already claimed that he won't work with a boxing trainer as he prepares for Makhmudov, who has a knockout ratio of over 90 per cent.

"I'm a one-man army. I train myself like Clubber Lang," Fury told Sky Sports last month. "I'll find what's best. As long as somebody gives me a drink, smear of Vaseline in between rounds, I'll be alright."

That means the renowned coach SugarHill Steward will not be involved alongside father John Fury, who has not been a part of Tyson's team since his first encounter with Oleksandr Usyk in May 2024.

In fact, it appears John will not be in attendance for the fight on April 11 after he opened up on a drastic breakdown in their communications.

Speaking to YouTube channel Playbook Boxing, the 60-year-old said: "My relationship with Tyson is destroyed. Boxing destroyed it completely. I'll say it on camera: I've never taken £10 off him in my life and I never will."

"I don't want Tyson's money and I don't need Tyson's money," he added. "Whatever he's got, good luck to him. But, don't forget who built his story when he was a kid. He didn't build it himself, did he? Me, his father."

Fury became increasingly emotional in the interview as he spoke about their relationship.

"I was 30 seconds away from asking for a break there," he said. "I haven't really expressed these emotions before but they're strong and they're there."

John Fury says Tyson's "legs aren't there anymore" in brutally honest assessment

As is often the case, Fury Snr held nothing back as he spoke about his son's current condition.

"I think he's past his best. I'm a no-filter kind of guy - I say it how I see it," said Fury. "I love him, but there are too many people patting him on the back and telling him things that aren't true, building him up like he's invincible. He's not and he hasn't been for a while.

"Tyson has been gone since the Deontay Wilder fights, they finished him. Wilder completely done him. He's not got a leg underneath him. He's took a lot away from Tyson. Makhmudov is a problem for Tyson. I am the first one to say it.

"Listen, I understand now that Tyson is testing himself. But, I can tell you now, his legs aren't there anymore. I understand the only way he will believe that and see that is when the first bell rings."

John believes Tyson's trilogy with Deontay Wilder has played its part.

"Tyson was a formidable man, but when you fight one of the hardest punchers in boxing history three times, it takes something out of you that you never get back," said Fury. "You can't refill that tank to what it once was. And every shot he took matters.

"Don't forget, in the last fight he went down four times- huge, heavy punches. He fought his heart out, went to the absolute limit, and gave everything he had to get that knockout. But when he got it, he had nothing left afterwards.

"He laid it all on the line. He even said himself, after everything, that he was prepared to die in there if it came to it. That's the kind of mentality he had: willing to risk everything in the ring."

Touching on the handling of Tyson's career, John added: "If you can't show your father respect when it matters, then just carry on. I don't need you. He's taken their word over mine. And that's eaten me up, more than I can explain."

"He should never have taken the fight with Usyk"

As well as his comments on the Wilder fight, John believes Tyson should have snubbed Usyk before suffering the first defeat of his career.

"I'll tell you about that. He should never have taken the fight with Usyk. I begged and prayed with him before the first fight," he said.

"He'd already been through a full training camp, and then he got cut in the last week. He was worn out from that camp. You can't just have three weeks' rest and then go straight into another seven weeks - that's what happened.

"I said, take two weeks. His Excellency was going to give us a £10million fine to pull out of the fight and I said take it. Give yourself four months, rest properly, then we'll go again. But no, after the fight, what does he do? Puts himself straight back into another seven- or eight-week camp, already as weak as anything.

"I thought, if we don't get this job done quickly, he's going to fade down the stretch. So the plan I had was to make it awkward - keep moving, keep turning him, keep everything uncomfortable. Don't stay in one position, because he'll catch you."