Hughie Fury's father, Peter Fury, has hit back at claims his son is dodging his mandatory fight against New Zealand heavyweight Joseph Parker.
The two were set to fight in Auckland on 6 May for Parker's WBO world heavyweight title, but Fury pulled out on the weekend with a back injury.
"Hughie has suffered a reoccurrence of an injury he first picked up in Holland a year ago, which he managed to get over with physio. But this is heavyweight boxing and it's very intense; Hughie has been sparring up to 40 rounds a week and when he’s pushed against the ropes it causes wear and tear. He picked up the the injury again three weeks ago and saw a specialist about it. He tried to work through it and he’s had a lot of physio but it’s like having constant toothache in his back," Peter Fury said.
"We need Hughie to win the fight, it’s not about turning up for a pay day, having a fight and then coming out with the excuses afterwards; I've got to look at his health and safety - as well as him being my son."
Parker's promoter, David Higgins, has since questioned the legitimacy of Fury's injury, but in a column in the Mirror, Peter Fury said Hughie was indeed hurt and that Parker's team wanted to move the fight to the UK.
"We have written evidence of us saying 'let's stop messing around and get on with May 6'," Peter Fury said.
"It was they who were trying to move the fight, even after preparations were already underway. The date had been set, but they said they had spent too much money on the fight and that it wouldn't work in New Zealand."
Peter Fury said he wanted to reschedule the fight with Parker, though Duco appeared to be disinterested as they were trying to secure a new fighter to face the 25-year-old on 6 May.
"As far as we're concerned, we'll still take the fight to New Zealand. We spent more than $30,000 on immigration lawyers both here and in New Zealand to make sure I could be in Hughie's corner - so much for us not wanting to go to New Zealand."
