John Fury, the father of Tommy Fury, might be known as a family man with six children, but he’s had a dark past in prison.

Tommy, who is starring in his own BBC Three reality show, The Good. The Bad. The Fury, has since followed in his dad’s footsteps and pursued a career in boxing. In the six-part series, John makes several appearances.

However, there was a time when John faced many years behind bars and was left worrying for his son.

John appears in Tommy’s BBC Three reality show (Credit: Splashnews.com)
Tommy Fury’s father John arrested for gouging a man’s eye out

Back in 2011, John pleaded guilty to a charge of wounding with the intent to cause serious bodily harm in his mid-40s. A year prior, he tried to gouge out a man’s eye in a fight.

The victim, Oathie Sykes, was left half-blind following a violent incident at a car auction. The fight came after a 12-year dispute.

John was given an 11-year sentence and was released after serving four years in prison in February 2015.

In court, John reportedly broke down and pleaded for a less harsh sentence.

“I’m worried about my son. His boxing career is on the line,” he told the court. “If I could give my own eye to him to get back to my children I would do – I’m begging you for my life.”

When Oathie offered his testimony, it was a lot different from John’s. He said: “It was like he was trying to pull his finger into my brain through my socket.”

John said being in prison felt like a ‘nightmare’ (Credit: ITV)
‘The worst kind of nightmare is to be locked up’

Since being released from prison, John has been open about what life was like behind bars.

“For me, being a traveling man and one in the great outdoors, well, it was a horror story, a nightmare, the worst kind of a nightmare is to be locked up,” he told Betfred in 2021.

“Especially when you’re used to being free and doing as you want to do and going where you want to.

“But clever people and strong people mind and body can adjust and I adjusted early on saying right, ‘I’m not going to get out of this but I thought it’s better than being dead.”

While serving his time, John said he kept out of trouble. He insisted he “kept myself to myself” and that he knew he had to “keep my hands in my pockets” if he wanted to get out.

John said he “learnt” his lesson, stating that “sometimes lessons are harsh”.

‘That was my biggest downfall’

Last year, John reflected on his past while speaking to The Telegraph.

“One thing I should have done is a lot more thinking before acting. [There’s] the obvious…” he said.

“Sometimes you can make a decision too quick, and that was my biggest downfall. […] My father used to tell me that every day. He said, ‘Son, you react too quick, you’re not giving things enough thought. You’re jumping in…’”

John continued: “I’ve changed, but it’s all too late in life. I’ve had to [change], because I’ve got to bite my lip every day.”

How many times has John Fury been in Prison?

John has been in prison three times in total.

Prior to being sentenced in 2011, he had been in prison twice during his teens. The first time was when he was sent to a borstal, which is a custodial institution for young offenders. He managed to escape.

However, because of this, he was later forced to serve time at HM Prison Glen Parva to complete his original Borstal sentence.

John Fury, the father of boxing stars Tommy and Tyson Fury, has never shied away from his troubled past — but few know just how dark that chapter really was. Before becoming a controversial figure in the public eye and a fierce supporter of his sons’ boxing careers, John endured what he’s described as a “nightmare” during his time in prison — a sentence that stemmed from a brutal and shocking crime that changed the course of his life.

In 2011, John Fury was sentenced to 11 years in prison after he was found guilty of gouging a man’s eye out during a violent brawl. The horrific assault, which left the victim half-blind, occurred after a long-standing feud reportedly turned physical. The court heard how Fury, then in his mid-40s, lost control during the altercation, resulting in an act of extreme violence that stunned even seasoned legal professionals. At the time, the judge called it an act of “deliberate and sustained brutality.”

The man behind bars was far from the loud-mouthed, camera-ready figure the public would later come to recognize from press conferences and reality shows. During his time in prison, Fury reportedly struggled with the isolation and psychological toll of incarceration. Though a former bare-knuckle fighter and known for his toughness, John described prison life as a “living hell,” mentally tougher than any ring he had ever stepped into.

Locked away from his family, John missed critical years in both Tyson and Tommy’s early careers. Tyson has spoken openly about the void left by his father’s absence during those formative years, and Tommy has acknowledged that although they’ve rebuilt their bond, the scars from that time still linger. For John, those years behind bars were filled with regret and deep personal reflection.

Sources close to the family say John tried to use his time in prison constructively, engaging in fitness and spiritual growth, and even attempting to mentor younger inmates. Still, the weight of his crime and the consequences that followed stayed with him. Even now, long after his release, John Fury continues to carry the burden of his actions.

Upon his release in 2015 — after serving about half of his sentence — John re-entered public life with a bang, quickly becoming one of the most outspoken personalities in British boxing. His passionate, sometimes aggressive rants at press events have divided fans, but one thing is undeniable: he remains fiercely loyal to his family, especially his sons. His colorful persona may dominate headlines, but the darkness of his past is never far behind.

Many critics have questioned why John Fury has been allowed back into the spotlight, especially given the violent nature of his past crime. However, others argue that he has paid his debt to society and deserves a second chance. In various interviews, John has admitted he’s not proud of what he did, but insists he’s no longer the same man. He now positions himself as a cautionary tale — someone who lost everything due to a moment of rage.

For Tommy Fury, who rose to fame through Love Island and continued success in boxing and influencer circles, the legacy of his father’s crime is both a shadow and a lesson. Tommy has never denied the impact his dad’s past has had on the family but maintains that people can change. In many ways, the younger Fury is carving a public identity that both respects his father’s lessons and strives to move beyond the darkness of their family’s history.

John Fury’s story is a complicated one — a mix of violence, redemption, regret, and raw honesty. While his past may forever be part of his narrative, so too is his determination to stand by his family and ensure his sons don’t repeat his mistakes. The “nightmare” of prison may be behind him, but its lessons continue to shape his every move.