by Fury, Tyson
25. Finding Klitschko. In summer 2010 I got a call from legendary boxing trainer Emanuel Steward – Manny as he is known. He asked me to come to Austria to be part of a Wladimir Klitschko training camp. I jumped at the chance.
26. I went to Austria expecting to meet Superman but Klitschko just looked like another man with a pair of gloves on; I thought there was nothing special to see at all. When we would finally meet in the ring in November 2015, with his world heavyweight titles on the line, I knew I had the beating of him.
27. In the second press conference in England, I stole all the limelight when I turned up in a Batman costume, and even staged a fight with the Joker!
28. Virtually nobody outside of my family and team gave me a chance; they just thought Klitschko was a league above me.
29. Klitschko was used to dominating his opponents but he hadn’t faced anyone like me before. I was as big and as strong as he was and had better footwork and more fluid boxing skills. I brought all of that to him from the start.
30. ‘From the United Kingdom, the new unified champion of the world – Tyson Fury!’ I jumped into the air in celebration and my dad nearly collapsed. The dream had come true.
31. December 2018. ‘You’re beat, you’re beat. I’m going to take you to school, you big dosser.’ As we were brought together before the first bell, and throughout the first round, I was taunting the WBC heavyweight champion Deontay Wilder.
32. Wilder didn’t know what to do with me. He had scary power in his fists, but he couldn’t land his punches. I was in my groove, firing home my jab, and Wilder was soon the one looking tired, unable to sustain any attacks.
33. The twelfth round – a round for the ages. Wilder detonated a right hand and then landed a free left hook as I was going down.
34. I hit the canvas with an almighty crash. This had to be the end, thought Wilder and everybody else in the arena, and the millions watching around the world on TV …
35. Five seconds later the comeback was alive, the darkness gave way to light as I rose to my feet. It was all meant to be, whatever has happened in my life. I was supposed to go down against Wilder; I was supposed to rise dramatically.
36. As the final bell rang I raised my hands in triumph before jogging across to jump on to the ropes to salute the fans who, as one, hailed me as the victor, and hailed one of the greatest comebacks that the sport of boxing has ever seen.
37. Viva Las Vegas! Tom Schwarz, June 2019. I thought I would take a leaf out of the Rocky IV script by donning the same Uncle Sam gear that Apollo Creed wore when he came in to face Ivan Drago. After strolling into the ring with the Stars and Stripes hat and shorts on, I delivered a show to match my entrance.
38. Vegas Part II. Otto Wallin, September 2019. In round three, Wallin caught me with a short left hook and it opened up by far the worst cut I’ve ever had in my career. Some fighters would have gone on the defensive but I took the fight to the Swede and rocked him to his boots.
39. My cuts man Jorge did such a good job that I gave him a bonus. But I still needed nearly fifty stitches.
40. During the depths of my depression I was 28 stone and heart-attack material. I would have given anything for a normal state of mind and a chance to return to the real world.
41. I first met Paris, the love of my life, in 2005 at a wedding in London. Paris was fifteen and I was seventeen. Right away I felt drawn to her but the feeling didn’t seem to be mutual at first!
42. When I reflect on the life I have had with Paris, I am aware just how blessed I am to have her by my side and how blessed our children are to have her as a mother.
43. Thankfully we met again and we clicked. We got married very young – I was twenty and Paris was eighteen.
44. A close family unit is worth more than gold. Since my depression, I have come to appreciate more and more the simple things in life, to appreciate my family more than ever – whether that’s enjoying a lunch together or a holiday with the kids.
47. My comeback was not simply down to me and Ben. In particular, everyone in my Marbella training camps played their part – they helped to drive me on, to nudge me along if there was any sign that I was going to fall off the tracks again. I will always be thankful for the support of my family and friends.
49. My trainer Ben Davison has also suffered from depression, and that’s one of the reasons why he has been so good for me during my comeback: he can read the signs in me when I’m not in a great place, and he knows exactly how to respond. Crucially, Ben has understood me.
51. Team Tyson: my friends, fellow boxers, trainers and my promoters.
52. Frank Warren and Bob Arum.
53. I’ve worked incredibly hard to come back, but I’ve enjoyed it, too. I’ve made lots of new friends along the way!
57. When the WWE opportunity came up I just thought, ‘Why not?’ For my son Prince it was a dream come true. He plays WWE on his PlayStation every single day and when he got to meet the superstars backstage, including The Rock, it was amazing for him. I was the best dad ever!
60. I had the challenge of facing the so-called ‘Monster Among Men’ Braun Strowman in the wrestling ring. We made a family holiday out of it in October 2019, and Paris and I and the five children flew out to Orlando, Florida, to the WWE’s Performance Center. There the wrestlers train and learn how to look after themselves in the ring, and I can confirm that it’s a lot more intense than people would think – and pretty sore on the back!
Useful Mental Health Contacts
If you think you, or someone you know, is experiencing mental health issues you should seek professional help immediately. In the UK you can contact your local GP for a full range of options with the NHS. Below are some leading mental health organisations who are also on hand to help.
The Frank Bruno Foundation
I am proud to be an ambassador for The Frank Bruno Foundation, which aims to provide Non-contact Boxing alongside Wellbeing programmes for adults and young people who are facing or recovering from mental ill-health issues.
The Frank Bruno Foundation is a direct result of Frank wanting to give something back to the community. Frank has faced challenges both in and out of the ring and has always done so with determination, dignity, humour and humility. But it is Frank’s bravery and honesty in talking about his battles with mental health issues which continue to earn him the respect of those whose affection he won as a boxer. It is fitting then that supporting sufferers of mental ill-health is where Frank feels his attention is best focused.
For more information, visit https://www.thefrankbrunofoundation.co.uk/
Mind
Mind is one of the UK’s leading mental health charities. They believe no one should have to face a mental health problem alone. Whether you’re stressed, depressed or in crisis, they’ll listen, give you support and advice, and fight your corner. And they’ll push for a better deal and respect for everyone experiencing a mental health problem.
For more information, visit the Mind UK infoline: Call 0300 123 3393 or text 86463 or visit https://www.mind.org.uk/
Samaritans
Samaritans offer people a chance talk to them anytime in their own way – about whatever’s getting to them.
Going through a difficult time? You can contact Samaritans FREE on 116 123 (support available 24/7).
For more information, visit http://www.samaritans.org/
Professional Boxing Record
Statistics
Name Tyson Luke Fury
Nickname(s) Gypsy King, The Furious One, 2 Fast
Date of Birth 12 August 1988
Nationality United Kingdom
Division Heavyweight
Stance Orthodox
Height 6″ 9″/206cm
Reach 85″/216cm
Professional Fight Record
Index
The page references in this index correspond to the print edition from which this ebook was created, and clicking on them will take you to the the location in the ebook where the e
quivalent print page would begin. To find a specific word or phrase from the index, please use the search feature of your ebook reader.
TF indicates Tyson Fury.
Abdullaev, Sardor 77–8
Abell, Joey 125
Adamek, Tomasz 115
Aerosmith: ‘I Don’t Want to Miss a Thing’ 36, 251
Akinwande, Henry 54
Ali, Muhammad 1, 16, 47, 57, 91, 141, 142, 186, 216, 242, 251
Allcock, Tim 214, 246
Allen, Dave 183–4
Amateur Boxing Association (ABA) 95
Junior Championship (2004) 76
National Championship (2006) 78
National Championship (2008) 80–1, 84
Arreola, Chris 114–15
Arum, Bob 242, 243, 245, 251, 252, 253, 254
Babanin, Maxim 79
Banks, Johnathon 25
bare-knuckle fighters 8, 40–4
Barnes, Paddy 190, 195
BBC radio 36
Bellew, Tony 170
Belshaw, Scott 95
Bernát, István 77
Bible 9, 50, 61, 63, 211, 263–4
Big Bear Mountain, California 199–201, 202, 208
Blasko, Hans-Joerg 99
Blue Horizon, Philadelphia 236, 238
Bowe, Riddick 245
Boxing News magazine 50, 80
BoxNation channel 125, 171
Boytsov, Denis 112
Breazeale, Dominic 245, 247
Breland, Mark 220–1
British Boxing Board of Control 30, 167, 169
Brown, James: ‘Living in America’ 249
Browne, Lucas 183
Bruno, Frank 142, 265, 269
BT Sport 6, 171–2, 181, 193, 198, 213, 239, 242, 243, 257
Buffer, Michael 32, 34
Burnett, Ryan 235
Burton, Hosea (cousin) 42–3
Burton, Othea (great-grandfather) 43
Burton, Othea (uncle) 43
Byarm, Maurice 236–8
Campbell, Damien 80–1
Campbell, Luke 80
Capetillo, Jorge 256
Chagaev, Ruslan 189
Chambers, Eddie 121
Channel 5 112
Charr, Manuel 184
Chisora, Dereck:
Haye and 119–20
Klitschko fight 19–20
TF fights 26, 100, 102–4, 124, 125–6, 249
cocaine 160, 167
Commonwealth Games (2006) 81
Cooney, Gerry 118
Cunningham, Steve 107, 115–18, 121, 237
Dark Knight Rises, The (film) 41
Darling Buds of May, The (television programme) 53
Davison, Ben:
becomes TF’s trainer 162–5, 168, 173, 175, 176, 272
depression 262–3, 267
Marbella training camp and 177, 178, 179–80
Schwartz-TF fight and 245, 246, 247, 250, 256
TF comeback (Seferi) fight and 181, 182, 183, 185, 191
Wilder-TF fight and 3–4, 5, 6, 194, 195, 196, 199, 200, 201, 208, 212, 214, 216, 217, 219–20, 221, 239–40, 241
Davis, Robert 174
DAZN 242
De La Hoya, Oscar 242
Dempsey, Jack 1, 57
depression 11–12, 168, 171, 172, 178, 180, 226, 261, 268, 269
acceptance of 261, 272
Ben Davison and 262–3, 267
diagnosis of 63, 64, 107
family relationships and 63–6, 146, 151, 153, 158–61, 165, 168, 180
Haye fight cancellation and TF’s 121, 122
Klitschko fight and TF’s 37–8, 134–5, 225, 234
life-long nature of battle with 261, 273
public awareness of, 261–2, 264–7
recreational drugs and 160, 167
seeking professional help for, 153, 153n, 168
social media and 226–7, 264
TF’s breakdowns and 1–3, 2, 8, 10, 38, 107, 146, 150–2, 272 see also Fury, Tyson:
mental health issues
TF’s childhood and 140
TF’s comeback after depths of 161–86
TF’s early boxing career and 140–1
DiBella, Lou 221
Douglas, James Buster 35
Dubois, Daniel 184
Dunne, Bernard 98
Eagles: ‘Hotel California’ 203
Edwards, Phil 221
Egan, Jimmy 56, 57, 73, 189
Egan, Steve 57, 58, 70, 71, 72, 74, 76, 79, 80, 91, 189
Ellis, Mathew 95
ESPN 242–3, 249, 251, 253, 256
ESPN+ 242
Esprit Arena, Düsseldorf 21
Eubank, Chris 141
European Amateur Boxing Championships (2007) 78–80
European Junior Championships (2007) 78–9
‘Facebreaker’ 74
Ferrari 1–2, 17, 50, 139, 149
Finch, Alvin 76, 79–80
Finkel, Shelly 192, 193
Firtha, Nicolai 104–5, 111
Foreman, George 142, 161, 216, 242, 251
Frampton, Carl 190, 195
Franny Hands’ gym, Liverpool 56
Frazier, Joe 238
Frazier, Marvis 238
Froch, Carl 86–7
Fury, Amber (mother) 23, 39–40, 43, 44, 58, 66, 211, 230–1, 232
Fury, Hughie (brother) 39, 54, 76, 177, 228, 229
Fury, Hughie (cousin) 42, 75, 110, 165
Fury, Hughie (uncle) 22, 23, 24, 35, 37, 42, 44, 47, 89–91, 92, 93, 99, 100, 109, 128, 129, 143, 177
Fury, John (brother) 54
Fury, John (father) 23
boxing career 8, 43, 54–5, 196–7
childhood 46–8
family ancestry 40, 42, 83
prison 101–2, 128–9
TF’s boxing career and 14, 28–9, 34, 37, 54, 55, 56, 58, 72, 78, 78–9, 85, 86, 110, 182, 183, 194, 196–7, 198, 209–10, 212, 213–14, 227–8, 249, 257
TF’s childhood and 39, 44–5, 48–51, 54–5, 56, 58, 72, 78, 78–9, 85, 86, 101–2, 110, 128–9, 230, 233
TF’s mental health issues and 151, 158
Fury, Paris (wife) vi, 1, 2, 14, 15, 18, 31, 35, 36, 61–7, 89, 98–9, 119, 132, 135, 136, 146, 151, 153, 165, 173, 177, 185, 238, 240, 258, 267, 268, 269, 270, 271, 273
first meets TF 61–2
honeymoon 86
marries TF 62–3, 86
miscarriages 22–4, 143, 186–7
public image of TF and 268
renews wedding vows with TF 119
TF’s boxing matches and 35, 36, 66–7, 132, 135, 186–7, 209, 212, 229, 251
TF’s depression and 63–6, 146, 151, 153, 158–61, 165, 168, 180
Fury, Patience (grandmother) 44, 47, 133, 231–2
Fury, Peter (uncle) 30, 42, 44, 47, 90, 109, 110, 111, 112, 113, 116, 126, 127–8, 129, 148
Fury, Prince (son) 259
Fury, Ramona (aunt) 232, 233
Fury, Ramona (daughter) 22–4, 37
Fury, Ramona (sister) 39
Fury, Shane (brother) 7, 23–4, 29, 39, 52, 53–4, 56, 57, 59, 73, 75, 128, 151, 160, 175, 185, 189, 214, 220, 228, 229–30
Fury, Tommy (half-brother) 8
Fury, Tyson Luke:
alcohol and 8, 102, 146, 147, 157, 158–9, 190
amateur boxing career 64, 66, 69–84 see also individual competition name
ancestry 40–4, 83–4, 98, 108–9, 118
anticipation skills 133
bare-knuckle fighters and 8, 40–4
Batman costume 25, 131
begins boxing 55–9
bipolar disorder 151, 172
birth 7, 44–5
boxing licence 168, 181
British heavyweight titles 21, 62, 90, 100, 102–3, 125
car dealing 49–51
celebrations after a fight 37–8, 102, 114, 118–19, 136–7
childhood 12, 37, 38, 39–40, 44–59, 84, 189, 232–3
child, loss of 22–4, 37
children see individual child name
comeback
after depression 161–86
Commonwealth titles 21, 90, 102–3, 105
controlling the ‘distance’ in a fight 92, 183
counter-punching style 71, 125–6, 216
cuts in the ring, sustaining 99, 256–8
dark side of boxing (politics and the behind-the-scenes antics) and 28–31, 55, 69, 72–3, 141–2, 150, 164, 166, 196
diet 31, 89–90, 110, 130, 175, 178, 180, 214
drugs testing 134–5, 165–6, 168
English heavyweight titles 13, 21, 96–100
European Amateur Boxing Championships (2007) 78–80
European Junior Championships (2007) 78–9
fame 74, 101, 112, 116, 118, 120, 130–1, 136–7, 141, 142–3, 157–8, 197, 198, 214, 230–1, 243
family see individual family member name
fans and 6, 10, 36, 66, 97, 110, 111, 113–14, 117, 118, 136–7, 141, 185, 194–5, 209–10, 215, 220, 221, 223, 230–1, 239, 249, 251, 252, 255
father, importance of being a good 137, 270, 271, 273
fights see individual opponent name
finances 50, 56, 69, 121–2, 123, 124–5, 126, 127, 145, 166, 170, 226, 229, 230, 231, 243, 258, 270
first fight 58–9
first full year as a pro (2009) 92–3
Great Britain boxing squad and 77–81, 83–4, 235
‘Gypsy King’ 6, 11, 22, 38, 40, 41, 131, 179, 181, 183, 184, 193, 195, 198, 210, 217, 218, 224, 251, 255
height 11, 52, 57, 214
held up with a knife 235–6
homelessness and 202–3, 267–8
injuries 78, 98, 148