
Lancaster boxer Walter Fury wants to make his fighting family - including cousin Tyson - proud when he enters the ring for his third professional bout.
Fury fights Joe Hardy this Saturday at the Co-Op Live Arena in Manchester as he looks to maintain the unbeaten start to his professional career.
The 27-year-old has looked impressive in his first two wins over Vasif Mamedov and Dale Arrowsmith last year, and will now look to capitalise on the bright lights of a big fight night at the UK's largest indoor arena.
"I reckon I done well for my first fight, and for my second, there were a lot of things I could have learned more," said Walter.
"But that's part of the game. I'm only an early stage into it.
"Hopefully I'll fetch more to the table on Saturday night."
LISTEN to our interview with Walter Fury
"I don't know a great lot (about my opponent) because I'm not really bothered. I don't really worry about what he's going to do. I know I'm going to be better."
Walter is pictured below during his pro debut in 2024.
Walter has returned to the sport after an amateur career of around 70 bouts.
He fights in memory of his late father Hughie - who also trained his cousin the former world heavyweight champion Tyson Fury.
"I'm matured now, I'm a fully set man," he said.
"When I was an amateur I was only developing. I'm very tall now and I was tall for my age back then. Now I can put my shots together better, especially since I've been working with Bob (Howard). He's taught me a lot.
"It was good growing up in the boxing, I've done it all my life. It's nothing new.
"Better than that is to get back doing it again, to make my dad proud who's not here any more, and to do something positive in life.
"I'm willing to take it to the next level."
Walter said he's also proud of Tyson for his achievements in boxing, and supports him in his decision to retire from the ring after his second defeat to Oleksandr Usyk in December (below).
"I've spoken to him, he's in a good frame of mind," he said.
"It's part of boxing. It was a close fight, shame it never went his way. But it's one of those things.
"But it's nothing to Tyson. He's won everything you can win in boxing. I think he doesn't need to do much more boxing to get what he wants, because he's already got it.
"The best thing he can do is what he's done, is retire and enjoy his life, because he can only risk his life from then on.
"So, he's done us proud. His family are very proud of him and we always will be.
"This is why I'm doing boxing, not just for my father, for the people I've got around me who's pushed me back into the sport. Hopefully I can make them proud as well.
"I'm not saying I'm going to be the next Tyson, but I'm going to give it everything I've got to keep the name going."
Walter Fury vs Joe Hardy is on the same bill as a high-profile heavyweight contest between Dereck Chisora and Otto Wallin, and Walter's stablemate Reece MacMillan's British, Commonwealth and WBC International Title fight against Jack Rafferty.
Walter and Reece are pictured below at the Coastal boxing gym in Morecambe.
The card will be shown on TNT Sports from the new 20,000-plus capacity arena near Manchester City's Etihad Stadium.
"I'm in a lucky position, not many people for their third fight get to box in an arena like that," said Walter.
"But the crowd and big arenas don't bother me. What I need to do is just stay switched on and concentrate on the things I need to do.
"If I do that, I'll do things unbelievably well, and that's what I plan on doing."
LISTEN to the full interview with Walter Fury, Reece MacMillan and trainer Bob Howard on Beyond Radio this weekend.