Phil D. Jay
WBN Editor
Trainer disappointed at credit for champion son Hughie
Youth amateur world champion Hughie Fury has been distanced from his former base at Amir Khan’s Gloves Gym in Bolton by father and trainer Peter after comments made by former world champion Amir Khan on Sky Sports’ Ringside show this week.Khan, 26, has been noted by Fury Snr for seemingly claiming credit for the promising fighter’s recent gold medal victory in Armenia and spoke exclusively to World Boxing News to announce that his son will no longer have any association with the community centre in future.
“The suggestion that Hughie Trains at Gloves ABC is not correct,” Fury told World Boxing News.
”Hughie as a young Boy trained at Gloves and had fights whilst there, however Hughie never did progress there as at the time they had trainers their who simply didn't know much about the sport.
”Hughie complained about their attitude so I spoke with Asif Vali, who is our family friend, and removed Hughie from the Gym. Asif later took my comments on board and duly sacked the would be trainers at Gloves.
"Once this happened, Asif and I agreed Hughie should go back to Gloves and that we should continue working as a team. When Hughie did go back there were still some issues at the gym in establishing the right trainers for the job.
”Due to this, we agreed that I would train my son full time and Asif would over see the paperwork side and the PR aspect.”
Fury continued: ”In the first eight weeks of having Hughie under my guidance, he got to the semi finals and was unlucky not to win the CYP Boxing Championships due to home turf decisions. After this, Hughie went back to Gloves as I had other commitments and again was not happy there, losing two fights in a row.
"We then decided Hughie should work with me full time and from this point, Hughie won the CYP’s, then an ABA silver in the Tri-Nations and now the world championships.
”Asif in the meantime employed the services of Tommy Battle, who is also a friend of ours and a respected trainer, and since his deployment at Gloves - the gym has had fantastic results with their lads winning various titles under Tommy’s guidance.
”It is not correct what Amir suggests that Gloves are responsible for Hughie winning major titles with no mention of the team that Hughie works with every single day.
“I want to make it clear that Hughie has not been in Gloves Gym for over two years now and I know that the people at Gloves ABC will be happy that these facts are now put straight. As when Hughie won the ABA’s, these same comments were made back then which certain people at Gloves felt uncomfortable with.
“I do want to point out that Gloves ABC do a great job for the community and are proud of their achievements and I am sure they do not want credit where it's not due.
“Hughie works with Team Fury full time up to this date and his next move will be likely with the England Squad.
"Any suggestion that Team Fury or Hughie has ill feeling toward Amir is false though as Hughie fully respects Amir and for what he continues to do for Boxing. However, Hughie and his Team are our own people and make our own decisions entirely. Thank you.”
Peter Fury has also guided 18 year-old Hughie’s cousin Tyson, 24, to the brink of a professional world title after taking up the reigns and whipping the 6ft 9ins bruiser into his best ever shape for his recent win against Kevin ‘Kingpin’ Johnson.
The highly-ranked heavyweight returns to the ring on March 17th in New York for his American debut and could add another accolade to the Fury family’s achievements if he can overthrow the Klitschko brothers after years of domination.