Boxing Legends: Tyson Fury
Born on August 12th 1988 in Wythenshawe weighing just a pound, Tyson Luke Fury has been defying the odds since he entered the world and if you’d told anyone at that point that he would go on to stand at 6’9”, weigh 19 stone and become one of the best heavyweight boxers of all time, they’d have probably laughed at you.
However, that’s exactly what he has done.
Born into a proud traveller family to parents John and Amber Fury, Tyson first laced up a pair of boxing gloves at Jimmy Egan’s Boxing Academy in the heart of Wythenshawe. It was there a stellar amateur career began with Fury representing both England and Ireland in the unpaid ranks and winning bronze in the Youth World Championships in 2006. He reached a career high ranking of #3 in the world but was denied the chance to represent Great Britain in the 2008 Olympic Games eventually calling time on his amateur career later the same year, finishing with a record of 31-4.
He got off to a flying start as a professional winning his first seven fights via stoppage before defeating John McDermott on points for the English Heavyweight Title in a closely fought contest. The momentum continued as he remained unbeaten although it wasn’t until his 15th fight as a professional when people really started to take notice of the elusive, hard-hitting heavyweight.
Up against the unbeaten Dereck Chisora, who had an identical 14-0 record at the time, for the British and Commonwealth Heavyweight Titles, Fury put on a boxing clinic to outpoint his opponent in convincing fashion over 12 rounds. He picked up nine more victories, along with the Irish and European Titles, before the biggest fight of the Mancunian’s career to date - Wladimir Klitschko for the WBA, IBF, WBO and IBO World Heavyweight Titles in Germany.
The Ukrainian hadn’t been defeated in his previous 22 fights, spanning over 11 years, in a period where he simply dominated the heavyweight division. That was of course until he crossed paths with the ‘Gypsy King.’ A massive underdog, Fury defied the odds to achieve the unthinkable and claim a unanimous points victory over Klitschko in a place many deemed a fortress to become the lineal heavyweight champion of the world.
Fury’s homecoming, however, did not go as planned. Due to intense media scrutiny for his past beliefs, Tyson’s mental health took a turn for the worse and he turned to alcohol and drugs to try to battle through his pains. He rocketed up to 30 stone and didn’t box for two-and-a-half years until he made a sensational return in front of a sold-out Manchester Arena against Sefer Seferi.
This was Tyson Fury 2.0.
After getting past Seferi fairly easily, he dealt with Francesco Pianeta in similar fashion before agreeing to take on old foe Deontay Wilder in Los Angeles.
Again, written off by many including the bookies, Fury defied the odds to claim a split decision draw against the American which saw him climb off the canvas twice in a fight which many believe he was massively unlucky not to win.
The Wilder rematch was always billed as one of the most wanted fights in the sport and, after defeating Tom Schwarz and Otto Wallin, it was eventually set for February 2020. Fury had built up a reputation as being a slick, tricky, fleet footed heavyweight who would pick his opponents off on the outside. However, that reputation went out of the window as he applied nothing but front foot pressure to Wilder, forcing the American’s corner to throw the towel in during the seventh round. A victory for Tyson, not just in the ring, but outside of it more than anything. He was now a two-time heavyweight world champion and one of the most idolised sportsmen on the planet.
As contracted, a trilogy fight for Wilder was made and somehow, this ended up topping the previous two. Using a similar approach to the one he used in the second fight, Fury took the fight to Wilder but as he has done throughout his life, he faced plenty of adversity and had to climb off the canvas twice in round four. Fury recovered well though and eventually stopped Wilder in the 11th round to finish not only one of the greatest fights, but one of the best trilogies, in boxing history.
It was now time for a real homecoming. Having sold out Wembley Stadium in a matter of hours, Tyson took on domestic rival Dillian Whyte in front of over 90,000 fans. It turned out to be the fairytale that everyone anticipated with the ‘Gypsy King’ securing a one-punch knockout of Whyte in the sixth round.
From weighing just a pound at birth to becoming the 6’9”, 19 stone heavyweight champion of the world whilst battling depression and addiction, there really aren’t many words to describe Tyson Fury.
But “legend” certainly fits the bill.
