Mike Tyson was overjoyed when Tyson Fury stopped Deontay Wilder. The American heavyweight legend attended the rematch between the pair in 2020 and, despite Wilder being his countryman, he was clearly supporting Fury.
Tyson developed a soft spot for the Gypsy King when he first heard the story about how he was named after him as a premature baby. Describing the moment his son was born premature, Fury Snr explained to ITV: “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.”
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.”
Fury himself added: “I died three times when I was a baby and I weighed in at one pound in weight.
“I was born in 1988, my dad was a huge boxing fan and he was also a professional boxer so he called me after his greatest ever fighter Mike.
“He called me Tyson, it was my dad’s favourite fighter was Mike Tyson.
“Mike Tyson’s heyday was in 1988 – very fitting that I should go on to be the heavyweight champion of the world.”
As a result, when the pair met years later, ‘Iron Mike’ became a fan of the ‘Gypsy King’ and his father.
Before the Wilder rematch, Tyson admitted he was a fan of Fury as they recorded a podcast episode together.
“I always root for him because he was named after me,” the youngest heavyweight champion in history said.
“That’s the natural thing to do, right? I’m biased towards him.
“I don’t care how hard you punch, it’s hard to beat somebody who doesn’t wanna quit.
“It’s gonna be a really, really interesting fight and both guys have something to prove.
“I just wish the best for Tyson Fury, I’m always a Tyson fan.”
And when he attended Fury’s dramatic win over Wilder, he jumped up and down in joy.
The Brit floored the American in round three, then again in round five before the fight was stopped in round seven.
Tyson leapt out of his seat with his arms above his head and was caught on camera doing so.
Fury will be counting on ‘Iron Mike’s’ support once again when he faces Oleksandr Usyk in their rematch on December 21, looking to avenge the first defeat of his career.
