Tyson Fury has publicly backed his younger half-brother, Tommy Fury, to defeat current WBC cruiserweight world champion Noel Mikaelian. Speaking initially to iFL TV on June 14, 2026, the former heavyweight champion stated that the younger Fury has the ability to beat the Armenian-born German titleholder. Tyson Fury later reiterated his support in a social media video posted on June 23, urging the WBC to grant Tommy a top-15 ranking in either the light heavyweight or cruiserweight divisions.
The push for a world title shot comes as Tommy Fury looks to transition back to the professional ranks following a string of high-profile “crossover” events. The 27-year-old recently defeated World’s Strongest Man Eddie Hall by majority decision in an eight-round exhibition bout on June 13, 2026, at the AO Arena in Manchester. While Tommy maintains a professional record of 12-0-0 with 4 knockouts, exhibition results like the Hall victory do not contribute to his official professional standing.
Tyson Fury urges WBC to rank Tommy Fury
Tyson Fury has called upon WBC President Mauricio Sulaiman to recognize Tommy’s recent activity and provide a pathway to a championship. “Tommy is a real fighter,” Tyson stated, noting that his brother previously held a top-15 ranking after defeating Jake Paul by split decision in Saudi Arabia in February 2023. The elder Fury argued that the “Fury family spirit” and Tommy’s following justify his inclusion in the next set of rankings, which could facilitate a maiden world title shot.
WBC President Mauricio Sulaiman responded on June 22, 2026, indicating that the ratings committee would consider the request next month. Sulaiman cited the merits of crossover boxing and the fighting spirit of the Fury family when discussing Tommy’s eligibility. For his part, Tyson Fury remains focused on his own heavyweight legacy, confirming that Saudi Arabian boxing chief Turki Alalshikh is his promoter until retirement.
Noel Mikaelian has already addressed the challenge with a counter-proposal. The reigning WBC cruiserweight champion expressed a willingness to face Tommy Fury on the condition that Tyson Fury agrees to fight Mikaelian afterward. Mikaelian regained his WBC strap with a unanimous decision victory over Badou Jack in a rematch held in December, avenging a previous loss to the Swede from earlier that year.
Obstacles to a Mikaelian vs Fury title clash
While the narrative for a Fury-Mikaelian bout is growing, significant administrative roadblocks remain. The WBC has already ordered Mikaelian to defend his cruiserweight title against David Benavidez. Benavidez recently moved up in weight to capture the WBC light heavyweight belt and is now targeting dominance in the cruiserweight division. If Mikaelian proceeds with this mandatory defense, any potential voluntary opening for Tommy Fury would likely be delayed.
Tommy Fury’s professional career has yet to include a bout against a ranked contender or a former world champion. Despite this, his ambitions remain high. He has described becoming a world champion as the “only thing” he has not achieved in his life. His previous professional wins include a unanimous decision over Kenan Hanjalic in May 2025 and a majority decision over KSI in October 2023.
The cruiserweight division is increasingly under the spotlight, particularly as major champions look for high-drawing matchups. While David Benavidez has previously been linked to other weight classes, his current mandatory status at cruiserweight makes him the primary hurdle for any other challenger. Tommy Fury currently has no professional fight scheduled, though potential future opponents include Logan Paul and Darren Till.
The step up from exhibition to professional ranks
The transition from exhibition bouts to a world title challenge is a steep one. Tommy Fury’s professional experience consists of 52 total rounds with an average fight length of 4.3 rounds. In contrast, Mikaelian is a two-time WBC champion who has proven his ability to win 12-round championship decisions against elite opposition like Badou Jack. Tyson Fury, however, remains adamant that his brother’s physical tools and lineage give him the edge.
The upcoming WBC rankings update will be the first indicator of whether this title talk has official backing. If Tommy Fury is placed in the top 15, he will be eligible for voluntary defenses, provided the Benavidez situation is resolved. For now, the younger Fury continues to leverage his mainstream popularity while his elder brother campaigns for him to be treated as a legitimate world title contender.
com/o-shaquie-foster-calls-out-shakur-stevenson-after-title-defe/”>O’Shaquie Foster called out major names to secure his position, Tommy is relying on the commercial weight of the Fury name to skip the traditional queue.
