Joe Egan, a tough Birmingham native known for his close ties to boxing legend Mike Tyson, can’t seem to escape the spotlight of past rivalries. Once praised by Tyson himself as “the toughest white man on the planet,” Egan’s name has resurfaced amid a heated dispute with John Fury, father of current heavyweight champion Tyson Fury.
The conflict ignited at the 2022 Cannes Film Festival during the premiere of Prizefighter: The Life of Jem Belcher, a boxing film featuring Russell Crowe and Ray Winstone. Egan, who has moved into the film industry and had a role in the movie, wasn’t at the screening when John Fury reportedly called him a “fraud” and a “fake hardman” in the presence of Crowe and Winstone.
Egan, now 60, took great offense at the insult and publicly challenged Fury to a fight to settle the matter once and for all. Although verbal exchanges and offers of money have circulated, Fury has yet to accept the challenge.
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In a recent interview with BirminghamLive, Egan explained their history and frustration: “John and I go back many years on the boxing circuit. Neither of us were champions—we were just tough men.” He continued, “At the premiere, John was talking to Russell Crowe, and when asked if he knew me, John called me a fraud and fake hardman. I never claimed to be a hardman, but anyone who knows me understands my toughness. I’ve fought legends like Tyson and Lennox Lewis and earned their respect.”
Egan recalled how Fury further provoked him by claiming to be the “hardest 58-year-old on the planet,” prompting Egan to say, “Let’s fight.” When Egan called Fury to discuss the bout, he was met with obscenities rather than sportsmanship. “I said, ‘John, keep it civil and let’s get this fight on,’ but he started shouting at me. That doesn’t show me a fighting man,” Egan stated.
Meanwhile, John Fury has not held back in his accusations, calling out both Egan and former world super middleweight champion Carl Froch. Earlier this year, Fury declared, “This is to all the pretenders out there, the worm Froch and the other f**king juicehead,” referring to Egan. “Time’s running out for you boys. I’m going to bump into you, and when I do, I’m going to do the two of you on the same night.”
As this war of words continues, the boxing world watches to see if the fighters will settle their differences in the ring—where true toughness is proven.