Fight week is finally here, as Tommy Fury and KSI prepare to face off in the year’s biggest crossover boxing attraction. The Sportsman sat down with Fury’s father and trainer, John Fury, to discuss the upcoming fight and the rise of this unconventional form of the sport.
When asked whether Tommy’s future lay in these sort of bouts, given his increased profile since beating Jake Paul in February, Fury argued it just makes good business sense. “We’re going where the eyes are. the bottoms on seats.This is a business and we’re going where the good business is. This business is better than conventional boxing, a lot better.”
Perhaps unsurprisingly for someone who has been around the fight game so long, a veteran heavyweight himself before becoming a trainer, Fury is embracing the influencer era. “It's more fun, you’re bringing a different clientele to the game.” ‘Big’ John compared boxing unfavourably with the Misfits style of card, arguing the results are less predictable.
“People are getting bored with the same old thing. The blue corner never wins does it? But in crossover fights, Misfits fights bizarre stuff can happen., And that's why they want to watch it. I think it's a good breath of fresh air. I never thought I'd hear myself saying it. But conventional boxing at the minute, it needs to pick its socks up. It’s failing badly and there's that much competition. You've got MMA, you’ve got crossover boxing. Even the big GK’s (‘Gypsy King’ Tyson Fury) crossed and that shows you where it’s at.”
Going beyond the richly-compensated likes of Tommy and KSI, who are expected to earn nine-figure paydays for the event, Fury laments the effect of a stagnating sport on novice prospects. “I feel sorry for the people just setting off in the boxing careers. They may as well not bother, for the money you’re better off working in Asda. It’s safer and the money is more.”
While Fury is supportive of influencer boxing and the way the endeavour is driving interest in the sport, he is also realistic. When asked for his view on KSI’s abilities as a fighter, Fury was under no illusions about what his son is facing this Saturday.
“He’s not a boxer is he? He’s a Misfits boxer and there's a big difference. At the end of the day if you put him in with a proper pro, he’d probably get beat 10 times out of 10. but we're not. He's not saying he can beat pro boxers is he? He is trying it on with Tommy. But in his heart of hearts, he knows he hasn't got a prayer of beating Tommy. But people think he has. And that's what's put him there.”
While far from bowled over by KSI’s boxing skills, Fury will concede that the YouTuber is a brave man for taking on the bout. “Anybody that’s game enough to get into the ring and have a fight, you've got to take them seriously. He’s won five, it doesn’t matter who he’s fought. They may have been nobody, but he's had the nuts to get in there and do his thing.”
Overall these sort of fights are a great earner for Tommy and a popular trend with young viewers. Fury might not rate KSI the boxer but he applauds KSI the businessman and others of his ilk. “He’s bringing eyes to the screens, bums on seats, let's rumble. All I can say to him is good luck to him, for having the you-know-whats to get in the ring with Tommy. Because he knows it's a tall order.
I've got nothing against KSI, got nothing against Jake Paul and Logan Paul, or any other Misfits boxer in the world. It's all good fun and games and they get well paid for it.”
John Fury spoke to The Sportsman courtesy of Freebets.com
