By Declan Taylor

Tyson Fury’s trainer Ben Davison has hit back at suggestions from the heavyweight’s own father that the former world champion’s whole career will be at threat until he changes his coaching team.

John Fury, the ex-professional boxer known as ‘Gypsy John’, was his son’s trainer until he was sentenced to 11 years in prison back in 2011.

He has been on fringes of Fury’s team since his release but the 6ft 9in 31-year-old has chosen Ben Davison to be his trainer.

“Listen, if Tyson was a kitten, he wouldn’t have been able to do 12 rounds like that,” Davison said in response to John Fury’s comment.

“It was his engine and experience, strength and size which was the difference there. Strength wise I was perfectly happy with it.

“John is Tyson’s dad so of course you have to respect him but Tyson was fully prepared and you can’t do anything about sustaining a bad cut.

“Just because he’s gone 12 rounds it doesn’t mean he’s weak. If he was weak he wouldn’t have been able to do 12 rounds there.”

Wallin was a 12/1 underdog with most bookmakers along the Strip here in Vegas as Fury was expected to make reasonably lightwork of the little-known Swede.

It is only 13 weeks since Fury despatched Tom Schwarz inside two rounds and many expected a similarly one-sided affair.

But Davison revealed he had specifically prepared his charge for the ‘dogfight’ which unfolded at the T-Mobile Arena as a result of the early cut.

“We worked in training camp for it to potentially be a dogfight because we knew that we might have to go there,” Davison said.

“Otto had heart and bollocks and tried to close the gap up and luckily we had prepared Tyson in case it went that way because that’s what he needed.

“The cut affected him a lot, he couldn’t see out of it but he had to make out like he could see out of it. That’s why he made it a dog fight. Close the gap so he didnt have to be able to see the shots coming.

“He was listening to my instructions and doing what I was telling him to do. I thought Otto would crack but he showed a lot of heart and didn’t crack.”

Victory means Fury is still on course to face Deontay Wilder in their long-awaited rematch, scheduled for February 22, provided his cut heals in time. But after back-to-back camps, Davison is wary of burnout.

“Potentially he may need a rest we will have to wait and see but he’s training 24/7,” he added. “Maybe he does need a rest now.”

Article courtesy of The Independent

Photo courtesy of Mikey Williams/ Top Rank