03-22-2017, 02:19 PM
Hughie Fury's dad refused entry to New Zealand for WBO title fight with Joseph Parker
Trainer Peter Fury won't be allowed into New Zealand to oversee his son's WBO title fight with Joseph Parker.
Hughie Fury will have to fight Joseph Parker without his father in his corner after Peter Fury was refused entry to New Zealand.
Peter Fury has served a lengthy prison sentence in Britain over drugs and money laundering convictions and was understood to have been denied entry to NZ for the May 6 WBO world heavyweight title fight in Auckland.
Peter Fury, who was also his son's boxing trainer, applied for an exemption and had lawyers working on his behalf in New Zealand and Britain.
But Immigration New Zealand confirmed in a statement to 1News on Wednesday that they had declined his entry on "character grounds".
"Mr Fury was ineligible for a visa unless granted a special direction," the statement said.
"His case was fully considered and all representations submitted on Mr Fury's behalf were taken into account before a decision was made to decline his request for a special direction."
He was jailed for 10 years in 1995 for possession and intent to supply amphetamine – only to continue orchestrating his business from behind bars. In 2008 he received another two years for drug-related money laundering.
Five years ago a court ordered him to pay back the assets and funds he had hidden from the court.
In 2013, Peter's application for a visa into the United States was knocked back by authorities due to those two prison terms and he was forced to watch his nephew Tyson Fury's fight against Steve Cunningham from Canada, rather than work the corner at New York's Madison Square Garden.
The decision is a massive blow for the 22-year-old Hughie.
The Furys are a tight-knit clan with Peter Fury the glue to a successful boxing organisation that saw Tyson win the world titles from loing-time champion Wladimir Klitschko in 2015.
Hughie hasn't fought for a year and his ability to gain the mandatory challenger's rights with the WBO to take on Parker raised some eyebrows.
There has been talk of Tyson Fury coming to New Zealand to help his cousin's preparations and also work on his own training return as he battles back from depression and drug issues.
David Higgins, co-owner of Duco Events who are promoting the fight, had spoken of his hope that Peter Fury would be granted entry into New Zealand, believing he had turned his life around.
- Stuff
Trainer Peter Fury won't be allowed into New Zealand to oversee his son's WBO title fight with Joseph Parker.
Hughie Fury will have to fight Joseph Parker without his father in his corner after Peter Fury was refused entry to New Zealand.
Peter Fury has served a lengthy prison sentence in Britain over drugs and money laundering convictions and was understood to have been denied entry to NZ for the May 6 WBO world heavyweight title fight in Auckland.
Peter Fury, who was also his son's boxing trainer, applied for an exemption and had lawyers working on his behalf in New Zealand and Britain.
But Immigration New Zealand confirmed in a statement to 1News on Wednesday that they had declined his entry on "character grounds".
"Mr Fury was ineligible for a visa unless granted a special direction," the statement said.
"His case was fully considered and all representations submitted on Mr Fury's behalf were taken into account before a decision was made to decline his request for a special direction."
He was jailed for 10 years in 1995 for possession and intent to supply amphetamine – only to continue orchestrating his business from behind bars. In 2008 he received another two years for drug-related money laundering.
Five years ago a court ordered him to pay back the assets and funds he had hidden from the court.
In 2013, Peter's application for a visa into the United States was knocked back by authorities due to those two prison terms and he was forced to watch his nephew Tyson Fury's fight against Steve Cunningham from Canada, rather than work the corner at New York's Madison Square Garden.
The decision is a massive blow for the 22-year-old Hughie.
The Furys are a tight-knit clan with Peter Fury the glue to a successful boxing organisation that saw Tyson win the world titles from loing-time champion Wladimir Klitschko in 2015.
Hughie hasn't fought for a year and his ability to gain the mandatory challenger's rights with the WBO to take on Parker raised some eyebrows.
There has been talk of Tyson Fury coming to New Zealand to help his cousin's preparations and also work on his own training return as he battles back from depression and drug issues.
David Higgins, co-owner of Duco Events who are promoting the fight, had spoken of his hope that Peter Fury would be granted entry into New Zealand, believing he had turned his life around.
- Stuff