Tyson Fury is teaching sons how to box amid worries about bullying
When it comes to following in dad’s footsteps, there are few shoes harder to fill than heavyweight champion of the world.
But rather than dissuading his kids from copying his sporting career, Tyson Fury is actively encouraging sons Prince, Tyson Jr aka Tutty, and Adonis to do so. He’s training them to box, with mixed success, as he’s worried about them being bullied.
“It’s really important because it isn’t going to be easy growing up as Tyson Fury’s son,” he says. “There’s going to be people trying to punch them in the face. All sorts of stuff.” Prince is unimpressed. “Boxing is very dangerous,” he says. “Who can’t say that, where you are being punched in the face?”
In new Netflix nine-parter, At Home With The Furys we get an intimate glimpse of Tyson the father and protector of his rambunctious, mischievous six-strong brood - and since it filmed, there’s now another Fury baby on the way.
So who’ll be the next Fury Gypsy King and conqueror of the world?
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Safe money, on the evidence of this series, is on little Tyson Jr, six, who looks to have inherited his dad’s grit and talent as well as his name. But by series end, Prince has been ringside to watch his dad fight for the first time ever and is converted, too.
Meanwhile daughter Venezuela’s verdict on Tyson’s victory? “That’s what you call a nutcase for a father!” She and the rest of his girls don’t escape Tyson’s expectations, either.
Is there a scarier thought than bringing a boyfriend home to meet the 6ft 9in self-styled King of the Chavs? Tyson’s daughters Venezuela, Valencia and Athena might be able to tell us one day.
Doting dad Tyson with one of the kidsEarly on in the show, Paris is fretting on how Tyson, freshly retired from the ring, will take to just being plain old Dad. “I think he’ll struggle to be a normal dad. To be home constantly… I think it will drive him up the wall.”
When she travels to make an appearance on ITV's Loose Women, she comes back to an empty house - he’s bundled the kids into a motorhome to take them to stay at a campsite a mile down the road.
They have school next day. “I’m definitely the fun parent,” he crows as she despairs.
Tyson’s also strict, especially with eldest child, Venezuela, who turns 13 during the show, with a lavish all-female hooley. She’s chafing against the restrictions and expectations of being a girl in the Traveller community, and the apple of the Gypsy King’s eye.
She clashes with mum, Paris, over her outfit for baby sister, 11-month-old Athena’s christening. “You’ve got an internet and a world that’s your oyster and next day delivery!” Paris cries, exasperated.
The self-styled 'Fun parent' in the Fury household (Courtesy of Netflix)Trying to teach her daughter to cook is worse.
“I don’t want to be a wifey and cook dinners and clean and slave all day. No,” says Venezuela. “I’ll just sit at home.”
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“Are you just gonna live off your dad all your life?” Paris demands. A nod. “Are you gonna sponge? Cos you won’t be a proper person. You are just a privileged little brat!”
But it’s the lack of freedom that seems to be riling Venezuela most. “Strict parents raise sneaky kids,” she says, ominously.
“Tyson doesn’t like short skirts, lots of make-up,” Paris explains. “But I think it is just him accepting he’s got a teenage daughter. He is a dad who never had sisters. We’re trying to learn him about daughters.”
That’s not to say he doesn’t grasp the importance of being a parent.
“Being a parent is a very, very special and precious thing,” says Tyson. “No matter what you achieve in your life when that’s gone you’ve only got your family left. That’s why my biggest achievement is my wife and my kids. The rest of it? Here today, gone tomorrow.”
He proposes a toast to Paris. “Here’s to us and another 25 kids!”
“30!” she replies. With another already in the oven, you wouldn’t put it past them…
At Home With The Furys, is on Netflix on August 16.
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