Peter Fury a 'one-of-a-kind' heavyweight specialist, says Harris

Matty Harris has found his rhythm under Peter Fury, and the heavyweight prospect believes his trainer possesses a rare understanding of big men in boxing.

Harris joined Fury's Congleton gym after a shocking third-round loss to Kostiantyn Dovbyshschenko in 2023. Since then, the 6-foot-8 contender has rattled off five consecutive victories, capped by a career-best knockout of Franklin Ignatius in February. The 26-year-old, now 10-1 with seven knockouts, attributes the turnaround to Fury's meticulous approach to heavyweight development.

"I think he's a great boxing trainer generally but he specialises in heavyweights. 100 per cent," Harris told The Ring. "He knows heavyweight boxing inside out."

Fury's heavyweight pedigree on display

The veteran cornerman recently guided Rico Verhoeven through 11 competitive rounds against Oleksandr Usyk in a controversial stoppage loss, per The Ring. Verhoeven had never fought past five rounds before but maintained his conditioning deep into the fight, a testament to Fury's physical preparation methods. Fury previously masterminded nephew Tyson Fury's 2015 upset of Wladimir Klitschko and has worked with Verhoeven for roughly 15 years across combat sports.

Harris credits Fury's size and experience for his effectiveness with heavyweights. The trainer knows when to push and when to ease off, Harris said, and understands how big men should fight. Fury has also coached fighters outside the division, including former middleweight world champion Savannah Marshall, but Harris believes the heavyweight craft is where his mentor truly excels.

Harris is expected to announce his next opponent in the coming weeks as he continues his climb under Fury's watch.

Source: ringmagazine.com