In the wake of Tyson Fury’s first career defeat to Oleksandr Usyk, his brother Shane Fury has come forward to defend their father John Fury’s controversial advice during the fight. Shane insists that John’s intentions were rooted in his desire to protect his son, even if the guidance may not have been strategically sound.

The undisputed title clash in May saw Tyson Fury lose on points to the skillful Usyk, a result that shocked many in the boxing world. John Fury, along with trainers Sugar Hill Steward and Andy Lee, was in Tyson’s corner during the bout. Fans and pundits have since scrutinized the team’s approach, particularly John Fury’s repeated assurances to his son that he was winning the fight.

“My take is, deeply, truly, my honest opinion is my dad wants what’s best for his son,” Shane Fury told iFL TV. “And the best for his son after he’s been put down and nearly out cold is to get him through the fight. Forget the boxing; you can be KO’d and not wake up. That’s his mentality because he wants the best for his sons.”

During the ninth round, Fury was nearly stopped by Usyk and endured significant damage, leading to a knockdown. Despite being staggered and appearing close to a knockout, Tyson managed to reach the final bell, demonstrating his remarkable resilience.

Tyson Fury himself admitted to being confused by the post-fight outcome, having believed he was ahead based on his corner’s feedback. “I thank Oleksandr for the good fight; it was a close fight, but I thought I did enough,” Fury said at the post-fight press conference. “I’m not a judge, and I can’t judge a fight while I’m boxing it. I’m not going to cry about it; I’ve had plenty of victories. If they’d said to me before the last round that I was down, I would have gone and tried to finish it, but everyone in the corner believed we were up.”

The defeat has led to speculation about potential changes in Fury’s corner for the rematch with Usyk, scheduled for December 21 in Saudi Arabia. This rematch offers Fury a chance at redemption and to possibly rethink his team’s strategy and corner advice.

As Tyson Fury prepares for this crucial bout, the focus will be on whether he can adjust his tactics and corner support to overcome the formidable Usyk. With the stakes higher than ever, Fury’s path to redemption will be watched closely by the boxing world.