I nearly signed Tyson Fury before he turned pro but his dad John demanded £100,000… we got it wrong

11 months ago 71

BOXING promoter Barry Hearn turned down the chance to sign Tyson Fury for £100,000 – a decision he would live to regret.

Fury was a highly-touted amateur who just missed out on the 2008 Olympics when he turned professional aged 20.

John Fury with his then 18-year-old son Tyson[/caption]

He would go onto become a British boxing legend with two heavyweight titles reigns to his name.

In between those world championships runs was a break from boxing as Fury battled depression and substance abuse.

And before he decided to embark on a heroic comeback to the top of the throne, Hearn’s son Eddie infamously passed up on signing the Gypsy King.

But little did anyone know, Hearn Sr also turned Fury down – but for a totally different reason.

He told LuckyBlock.com: “I’ll let you in on a secret that not very many people know; I nearly signed Tyson Fury years before he turned professional.

“I was at a fight in Newcastle. Tyson – big lad, great name. That was my first reaction; big lad, great name.

“I could see money rolling in. John, his dad, said ‘my boy’s going to turn pro. He wants to sign with you. But we want a £100,000 signing fee.’

“In those days, and this is going back a number of years, that was a lot of money.

“I mean, that was like Olympic champion stuff. This kid was untested, but obviously huge.

“A few years later, of course, Eddie had the chance to sign him in Monte Carlo.”

Hearn continued: “I just don’t think Eddie believed that the transformation that Tyson eventually completed was possible.

“We’ve got it wrong. And you have to take your hat off to Tyson Fury. He turned his life around and he became the number one in the world.

“I don’t know how many people turned down the Beatles, but put us in that bracket.”

Fury instead signed for rival promoter Frank Warren after returning to boxing in 2018.

And just two years later he won the WBC world title to cap off a remarkable career and life turnaround.

Tyson Fury became WBC champ under Frank Warren[/caption]