Big John Fury named son Tyson after fearing he would die

John Fury decided on the name Tyson for his son after he was born three months premature and weighing just 1lb (450g).

The heavyweight boxer - who is currently the star of Netflix's At Home with the Furys - was born at Wythenshawe Hospital in August 1988, weeks before his due date and small enough to fit in the palm of his dad’s hand.

Despite his tiny size, John said he immediately felt there was ‘something about him’ and that he knew he was a ‘special human being’.

In an interview with the BBC back in 2018, John revealed that due to his size ‘no one was optimistic’ about the tot’s chances of survival but that he knew his son would make it.

"Tyson was an unexpected pregnancy, given we had lost several children between him and his eldest brother," he told BBC Sport.

"We were just hoping we could bring life and keep it in the world.

"He came into the world, had breathing difficulties - no-one was optimistic.

"I could put him in the palm of my hand and looking at him I thought 'this is a strange encounter with life'. I had this tremendous feeling.

Julian Finney/Getty Images

"I sat with him day and night, kept playing with him, working his little legs and arms, talking to him. There was something about him.

"It's a weird thing I am trying to describe and it must be hard to comprehend - but when I put my hand on his small frame I could literally feel the life in him. I thought 'you're a special human being'.

"I remember he would be lying on his back and have his fists up high. When I think about where he has been and where he has got to, extraordinary things have happened."

He’s previously revealed that even when medical professionals didn’t hold out much hope, he knew his son was destined for big things.

Netflix

Refusing to give up on his son, Big John settled on the name Tyson as he knew his little one would be a fighter.

“I told them God was looking down on him,” he said.

“I said, ‘He’ll be alright. He will be 7ft, 20 stone and heavyweight champion of the world.’ And I named him Tyson, after Mike Tyson.”

And his prediction was pretty bloody close, with Tyson now standing at 6ft 9in and weighing 18st 12lb at his April 2022 weigh in ahead of fight against Dillian Whyte.

Oh and he’s officially the heavyweight champion of the world, of course.

Topics: Tyson Fury, Boxing, Sport

Claire Reid

Claire is a journalist at LADbible who, after dossing around for a few years, went to Liverpool John Moores University. She graduated with a degree in Journalism and a whole load of debt. When not writing words in exchange for money she is usually at home watching serial killer documentaries surrounded by cats. You can contact Claire at [email protected]