Tyson Fury is named after Mike Tyson and heavyweight champion’s dad John explains why

When Tyson Fury was born in 1988, a certain heavyweight champion ruled supreme as the undisputed king of the division.

Back then it seemed ludicrous to think the young ‘Gypsy King’ would ever follow in the footsteps of Mike Tyson as he was three months premature and weighed just 1lb.

Instagram – Tyson Fury

Tyson Fury was named after the former undisputed champion and the Brit is aiming to follow in his footsteps by claiming all the belts

Fury was given slim chances of survival by doctors, but proved he was a fighter from birth.

His father, John Fury, explained to ITV: “He was just a pound in weight.

“The doctor said he probably won’t make it, he’s very weak.

“I said to all them doctors, he won’t be small, I said he’ll be nearly 7ft tall, 20 stone, the next heavyweight champion of the world.”

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John was proved correct as the baby Tyson battled through months of adversity to survive, before then going on to become a boxer as his father and namesake both did before him.

John concluded: “I thought, ‘There’s only one name fitting for him, he’s fought hard to become a person living in this world.’

“Mike Tyson was the best in the world at that time.

“Tyson Luke Fury – that’s his name.”

Download the talkSPORT app and listen to a huge heavyweight night of action this Saturday, with live coverage of Mike Tyson’s return to the ring against Roy Jones Jr

WATCH: ‘Iron’ Mike Tyson becomes the youngest ever heavyweight champion with devastating knockout of Trevor Berbick in 1986