Over the weekend, as Anthony Joshua lost a chance to regain his unified heavyweight titles against Oleksandr Usyk, the man with the only belt that could crown an undisputed heavyweight champion, Tyson Fury was experiencing a different kind of loss. His cousin, Rico Burton, was stabbed to death in Goose Green, a nightclub in Altrincham, Greater Manchester, according to local police reports.
Burton, 31, was “stabbed in the neck,” and two men were arrested because of the incident, where a 17-year-old also suffered severe injuries. Reportedly, one of the suspects is 21 years old and was arrested at the scene. Additionally, the other suspect is a 20-year-old who was later arrested, and both are currently in police custody.
My cousin was murdered last night. Stabbed in the neck, this is becoming ridiculous idiots carry knives. THIS NEEDS TO STOP 🛑
🙏 RIP RICO BURTON 🙏 pic.twitter.com/AaQUAiJ358
— TYSON FURY (@Tyson_Fury) August 21, 2022
“My cousin was murdered last night. Stabbed in the neck, this is becoming ridiculous idiots carry knives. THIS NEEDS TO STOP. RIP RICO BURTON,” the champ posted on social media.
“My cousin was murdered last night, stabbed in the neck, this is becoming ridiculous idiots carry knives,” Fury posted as a screenshot of an earlier post. “This needs to stop Asap, uk government needs to bring higher sentencing for knife crime, its a pandemic & you don’t know how bad it is until its 1 of your own! Life is very precious and it can be taken away very quick enjoy every moment. RIP RICO BURTON may the lord god grant you a good place in heven. see you soon #only cowardscarryweapons”
The local EMS services received multiple calls at about 3 a.m. on Sunday. When the paramedics arrived to the courtyard area, they found the 17-year-old and Burton with stab wounds; each was receiving first aid from the people on the scene.
Eventually, both victims were taken to the Manchester Royal Infirmary, where Burton was later pronounced dead.
'It's gone crazy in this country… if you carry a knife you deserve ten years.'
Steve Egan – Tyson Fury's first coach and friend of Rico Burton, who was fatally stabbed this weekend – on what he feels should be done to tackle knife crime across the UK. pic.twitter.com/SjED0boXPp
— GB News (@GBNEWS) August 22, 2022
“This is without doubt a senseless attack and both victims should have returned home this morning after enjoying a night out with friends,” Greater Manchester Police Superintendent Ben Ewart said at a news conference.
“Goose Green is a popular nightspot and would have been busy at the time and I appeal for anyone who was there overnight on Saturday or anyone with information about this incident – including phone photograph footage or videos – to come forward, in particular any friends of any of the victims or suspects who may have been out with them that night who have not yet come forward.”
Police believe that a potential argument broke out based on reports and that the current investigation is “very live,” with the argument component being “obviously a factor we’re looking into,” per Superintendent Ewart.
Unlike the States, the United Kingdom has experienced a spike in knife crimes. The country doe not have the same massive issues with gun crime as America, but it does have a violence issue regarding knife attacks.
THE GYPSY KING IS HERE TO STAY!!!@WBCBoxing @frankwarren_tv pic.twitter.com/DaDCfbQvPI
— TYSON FURY (@Tyson_Fury) August 20, 2022
Knife crimes rose by 10 percent to 49,027 offenses in England and Wales since March 2022, with public concern about stabbings creating mounting cry for stricter sentencing guidelines for offenders over 18.
While Tyson Fury also announced that he would accept Oleksandr Usyk’s challenge to fight and crown an undisputed heavyweight champion, Fury is now fighting another battle against knife crime while mourning his cousin.
