HALFWAY through writing a piece in which Andy Lee discussed Tyson Fury’s renewed focus, I became distracted by news that John Fury, Tyson’s dad, had used his head – or not, as the case may be – on a member of Oleksandr Usyk’s entourage, just because, well, it was Monday.
As I pondered, two thoughts crossed my mind. Firstly, I wondered if Fury’s supposed renewed dedication would be affected by his father’s behavior. Secondly, I questioned if it was even worth completing the piece I had been working on, considering the attention-grabbing incident that had just occurred.
I will never know the answer to question one, but finding the answer to question two was effortless. By observing the reaction to John Fury’s headbutt on a Ukrainian in Saudi Arabia, it became clear that no further discussion or words were necessary regarding the fight between Fury and Usyk that day. John Fury successfully took all the attention for himself, making the day, if not the entire week, solely about him.
After realizing the situation, fans in Riyadh quickly gathered around him, resembling a swarm of bees on John Fury’s bruised forehead, as if the secrets of life could be unveiled from that pitiful trickle of blood. In a chorus of concern, they bombarded him with questions, one after another, resembling a flock of geese. Meanwhile, Tyson Fury, concluding his own interview, succinctly captured the essence of the situation as he laid his eyes upon his father and bluntly inquired, “What happened to your head, you foolish individual?”
Tyson Fury (Nathan Stirk/Getty Images)
Regardless of how it was obtained, the response remained consistent, just like the question. It revolved around the impossibility of anyone surpassing a Fury, regardless of their birth circumstances. However, amidst the media’s frantic rush to break the news, they overlooked one crucial detail: John Fury’s nickname for the very tool or instrument used against a member of Oleksandr Usyk’s team yesterday.
For the unfamiliar, the name is Baby Reindeer.
Just to clarify, the name “John Fury’s forehead” has no relation to the popular Netflix series that has gained worldwide attention and led to the harassment and occasional interviews of the individuals on which certain characters were supposedly based. Instead, John Fury amusingly named his forehead “Baby Reindeer” to symbolize the effect it had on anyone who dared to challenge him, leaving them in a state of defeat. It is possible that when John Fury invaded the personal space of a member of Usyk’s entourage, he was attempting to convey this message, causing a momentary silence in Ukraine. Ultimately, John Fury wishes for his story to be heard and for the world to acknowledge the formidable power of his forehead, which is as potent as the man responsible for Tyson Fury’s existence.
If that is indeed the situation, he requires improved inquiries and also some diversity. By asking him identical questions, you will receive solely the identical Sean Dyche growl and banal responses. It’s akin to placing someone like John Fury in comparable circumstances; the outcomes will invariably be the same. However, in John Fury’s case, maybe that is precisely the intention. Perhaps boxing, grappling with its own lack of seriousness, now seeks these responses and outcomes as a final option or a desperate attempt.
Despite this, there are currently individuals in Saudi Arabia who had initially planned to interview Tyson Fury before his important fight, but ended up spending their Monday reporting on the actions of his father. Some dutifully followed the drama with their cameras and phones, as it has become the easiest way to document tragic events these days. On the other hand, true journalists sat down and dedicated their words to an incident they knew had no impact on the fight they had traveled for, yet it seemed to hold immense significance in the world they currently work in. However, even then, nobody asked the necessary questions or bothered to learn the name and background of John Fury’s now-famous forehead.
Chances are had John Fury on Monday sat down with a professional like Piers Morgan, things would have been different. Unlike those present in Riyadh, Morgan would have no doubt got to the truth and discovered once and for all the motive of the father behind the world heavyweight champion. He would have given John Fury a platform on which to speak and suggested it was in his best interest to speak – to him, right now, no time to waste. He would have promised an online audience of millions, something John Fury has wanted for years, and he would have done everything in his power to make him famous; proper famous, not just boxing famous. All the while John Fury, slowly peeling off the plaster running vertically down his forehead, will have worked up the courage to say to Morgan, “Thank you, Piers. Now let me tell you the truth about Baby Reindeer.”
John Fury gets wild (Misfits Boxing)
John Fury had always relied on shouting to gain attention in the boxing world. However, he realized that this tactic was not unique to him, prompting him to seek new and improved methods to make himself the center of attention. Enter Baby Reindeer – a forgotten and underutilized tool that had been a reliable companion to the soon-to-be 60-year-old Fury in times of trouble.
It is possible that skeptics will argue that he is merely bringing up something from his past to grab attention and divert focus from the more crucial battle at hand. However, John Fury, as he has done before, will assert that he is misunderstood, singled out, and subjected to unfair treatment. He will refer to himself as a “warrior” and label you as a “manipulative politician”.
Initially annoyed at being made the center of attention, His Baby Reindeer will later argue that a mere forehead cannot be held accountable for the decisions made by those who thrust them into the spotlight or others’ faces. After healing, they will explore their options, including legal action, management opportunities, and seeking sponsorship. Additionally, they will start a podcast and engage in a battle with a person named Paul. Surprisingly, they will become the second most influential forehead, following Zinedine Zidane’s, and the second most influential part of John Fury’s anatomy, after his balls. Within a year or two, Baby Reindeer will even agree to participate as a talking forehead in a three-part documentary for Netflix, showcasing the Fury vs. Usyk showdown. This exposure will finally bring global recognition to Baby Reindeer.
