John Fury explains why he said no to a big-money fight with a boxing legend
John Fury has shared the real reason he said no to a £1 million offer to fight former world champ Carl Froch.
While his son Tommy is getting ready to take on ex-World’s Strongest Man Eddie Hall in Manchester this Saturday (June 13), John is also being talked about for a possible boxing comeback—more than 30 years after his last pro fight.
Today, John is best known as the outspoken and sometimes wild dad of two-time heavyweight champ Tyson Fury and social media star and pro boxer Tommy. But before all that, John was a pro boxer himself, with 8 wins, 4 losses, and 1 draw from 13 fights. He even went for the Central Area heavyweight title in 1989 against Neil Malpass.
Could he really step back into the ring after 31 years? Talking to the media before Tommy’s fight with Hall, John mentioned the price he wanted to fight Carl “The Cobra” Froch. They almost came to blows at the press event for Tyson’s comeback fight, with John calling Froch out and Froch ready to accept.
Misfits Boxing reportedly made an offer, but John says it wasn’t close to what he asked for. “I asked for £2.5 million, they didn’t come back to me,” John told Pro Boxing Fans. “They offered me a million. After tax and fees, it’s not enough. I don’t need the money, I just know my worth. I bring a lot of attention because I’m different—I’ll do and say anything, and no one knows what I’m gonna do until I’m there.”
Froch, on the other hand, said John blocked the fight by making “unreasonable demands,” even wanting Tommy to fight him first. On his YouTube channel, Froch said: “Broadcasters were interested, but John started making demands to get Tommy fighting before me. He put a blockade with his son, which is ridiculous. John Fury talks a lot, causes noise, then turns down the fight. He had a big offer—seven figures—but made excuses and walked away.”
Froch has been retired since 2014 after beating George Groves at Wembley Stadium.