Inside the Ring: Tyson Fury's Rise to Boxing Dominance
Born three months early but full of the fighting spirit that he is famous for – Tyson Fury, the world’s number one heavyweight boxer, came into the world in 1988.
Growing up in Manchester, UK, his unique personality and style have captivated the boxing world – not to mention his unbeaten record of 35 fights (34 wins and 1 draw). He has never lost a fight, and along the way has become a prominent icon within the sport.
Early Life and Introduction to Boxing
Born prematurely to a family of Irish travellers, Tyson “Gypsy King” Fury was another boxer in a long family history of boxers. Weighing only one pound when he was born and given a slim chance of survival, he was named after Mike Tyson as an ode to his fighting spirit. He became ABA National Champion in 2008, which propelled him into his professional career aged 20. Tyson started competing for both England and Ireland, entering the pro ranks with a win against Bela Gyongyosi.
The Early Years and Boxing Style
He has an unpredictable boxing style, often using feints that provoke attacks which leaves his opponent vulnerable and open to his actual, real attack. He has effective, bouncing footwork and a long-ranged jab – which have both played a big part in all his professional boxing matches. After his first round TKO win, he won several titles, such as the English heavyweight title and the British and Commonwealth heavyweight titles (taking place in the Wembley Stadium and watched by three million people!). He also won Irish and WBO intercontinental titles. His early undefeated streak was instrumental in building his reputation.
The Road to the World Heavyweight Title
When he faced world champion Wladimir Klitschko in 2015, he had a winning record of 24-0. After a lot of trash talking, mind games and hype, the match took place in Dusseldorf. An outrageously high degree of physical and mental preparation is needed for this level of elite sport, and Tyson trained extensively with other highest ranked heavyweight kickboxers for this match (especially after it was postponed due to a calf injury sustained by Wladimir). It went for 12 rounds, and both of them landed 23% of the punches they threw. Tyson won by unanimous decision, stating after the match that it was “a dream come true” and thanking Wladimir for being “a great champion”. Unfortunately, he was stripped of his title due to a rematch clause, and this was the start of a slippery slope.
Overcoming Personal Challenges
Tyson experienced his slippery slope in 2016, after getting suspended from boxing by the British Boxing Board of Control for misconduct. Amid these allegations and after being deemed medically unfit to fight, Fury sadly vacated his WBA (Unified), WBO, IBO heavyweight titles. His struggles over this period of time were widely documented, and he gained a significant amount of weight, and the combination of these two things had him feeling “no motivation” to fight. These factors, along with the other allegations against him, led to him becoming a villain in the sport. He fell from grace and from public favour. However, his inspirational recovery was equally well documented after winning the lawsuit against him! He decided to get fit and fight again and began his comeback.
A Champion's Legacy and Future Prospects
Tyson successfully had his licence reinstated in 2018, and this was the beginning of his comeback and another string of successful wins. At the end of that year, the match for the W.B.C. the heavyweight belt was fought against Deontay Wilder, which ended up being a draw. They fought again in January 2020, and Fury took the title. At the moment, he is currently training for a third fight against Wilder. Fury recently compared ‘undisputed' to climbing Mount Everest and said he’s not interested in it, but there are rumours floating around that he actually does want to become the undisputed heavyweight champion of the world – let’s see!
Conclusion:
Tyson Fury is a multi-faceted man, known for his dominance in boxing. He has emerged as an aspirational figure, showcasing remarkable comebacks and establishing himself as a successful businessman with a global brand. His prominence in the sport is evident, and the inspirational aspects of his career are set to make a lasting impact on the world of boxing.