Boxing
Tyson Fury’s strange world: lobsters, saunas, rabbits, but no “nice memories” of boxing
WHEN TYSON FURY returns to the ring on Saturday, attracting the attention of thousands of people who do not watch boxing on a daily basis.
That’s because Fury (34-2-1, 24 KOs) transcends boxing with star quality and a notoriety that’s large enough to inspire two seasons of documentaries about his life on Netflix, which also shows Saturday’s non-title bout with Arslanbek Makhmudov [Netflix, 10 p.m. U.K., 2 p.m. ET in U.S].
In addition to what the former heavyweight world champion achieved in the ring, which includes five world title victories, his fame is also explained by his charisma, showmanship and entertaining, sometimes controversial comments.
People watch not only his fights, but also the performer of “The Gypsy King”, who was carried into the ring on a throne, sang in the ring after fights and kept fans addicted to the unpredictability of what he might say or do next.
Just look at his stance on preparing for his latest comeback, which he believes will “make boxing great again” after the sport has missed his absence. After spending the last three months in Thailand preparing without a coach, Fury would not confirm who will be in his corner at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium when he faces Russian Makhmudov (21-2, 19 KO) in his first match since losing points to world No. 1 Oleksandr Usyk in December 2024.
Fury, 37, recently told ESPN over the phone from his training camp: “Training is going very well here. When I first came to Thailand, I had no intention of boxing [again]no boxing. I came here at Christmas for a family holiday and one thing led to another and I haven’t been home since. It was a nice little Christmas. That’s the positive and what’s not to like about Thailand.
“It doesn’t matter who’s in the corner, some guy from the local gym, whoever’s available that night.”
Other controversies were more grave. Eleven years ago, he was investigated following backlash against his anti-gay comments. He was also criticized for sexist remarks. Fury has denied trying to “harm anyone” after thousands of signatures were collected on a petition seeking to have him removed from the 2015 BBC Sports Personality of the Year award, for which he was nominated after beating Wladimir Klitschko. He tested positive for cocaine. But he is he denied knowingly taking a banned substance despite the detection of increased levels of nandrolone metabolites in his body from before defeating Klitschko – in 2017 he accepted a two-year ban, which the British Anti-Doping Authority described as a “compromise”.
THERE WAS FURY unconventional and surprising since the day he turned professional in December 2008 at the age of 20. Buoyed by Carl Froch’s points victory over Jean Pascal, Fury stopped Bela Gyongyosigo with a left side crunch in two rounds.
“I was ecstatic enough with my professional debut considering I only got back from my honeymoon on the Wednesday before Saturday’s fight,” Fury said.
Many British boxing journalists did not even witness his debut at the Nottingham Arena as Amir Khan was boxing elsewhere in England. Fury’s professional arc has all but disappeared from view, and this week the focus is on Froch’s first world title fight and Khan’s comeback after losing his undefeated professional record.
But interest in Fury grew gradually, his trash talk once earning him a ban from the British Boxing Board of Control for swearing and seeing him tape his mouth shut before another press conference in 2014.
Also early in his professional career, Fury accidentally hit himself in the face with an uppercut during one fight with Lee Swaby in 2009 and later said, “I’m not going to get upset about it.”
Fury mercilessly taunted Klitschko, the then dominant world champion, long before his 2015 fight with the Ukrainian. Fury was used by Klitschko as a sparring partner at one of his training camps in Austria in 2011. After defeating local hero Martin Rogan in Belfast in 2012, Fury said: “I believe I’ve got it over with. [Klitschko] Already. We had a sauna competition at his training camp in Austria and I mentally broke him down.
“I almost fainted in the sauna before I left. We were there with some members of his training team and everyone left after 10 minutes.
“Me and him stayed inside. It got to 15 minutes and I had to count the seconds in my head to make it through.
“I smeared myself with olive oil until he finally got up, panting, and left without talking to anyone. I’m done with him. I watched Wladimir in his training camp and I know how to beat him.”
IN JULY 2015Fury told Klitschko at a press conference: “You have as much charisma as my underpants. All of Europe wants you to be defeated. You look venerable – have you had Botox? You speak 47 different languages, why? You’re still a robot. It’s not fun and electrifying to watch you.”
A few months later, Fury was delayed for another press conference in London, during which he announced his first world title fight against Klitschko. Impoverished timekeeping wasn’t unusual, but his entry when it happened was breathtaking. Fury burst into the room dressed as Batman, then jumped off the top table and got into a mock fight with a man dressed as the Joker.
Fury then turned to a stunned Klitschko, said “you’re next” and left.
After marching out with Joker, Fury re-entered the conference room wearing a shrewd suit and said, “Sorry, I’m delayed.”
Klitschko called Fury a clown, but the challenger was just starting to spread the bait.
During November’s fight week, Fury chanted to Klitschko and then headbutted a melon to post on social media. On the afternoon of the fight, he threatened to withdraw unless the ring apron was removed.
After defeating Klitschko on points, Fury said: “I saw in his eyes today that he was going to lose this fight and he saw in me a recent, hungry champion. Will that change me? I’m the heavyweight champion and I’m still wearing Slazenger socks.”
Fury defeated Klitschko to gain international fame, and a few weeks ago he told ESPN: “I don’t have good memories of either of them [his fight]I don’t think about them after the event, which is crazy. They can be really electrifying fights and I will knock them out, but after the fight I don’t think about them. I suppose my Everest was Wladimir Klitschko because I became world champion and everything else was a bonus for me.”
Over the next decade, Fury kissed opponents at weigh-ins, licked blood from Deontay Wilder’s arm during a world title fight, released lobsters (named Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi) at a seafood restaurant near a beach in Spain, sang in the ring after numerous fights and, most recently, tickled Makhmudov under the chin. He called his opponents and rivals dossers, sausages, large stiff idiots, bodybuilders, donkeys, robots, and most recently he called Usyk a rabbit.
It’s no surprise that Netflix produced two seasons after the boxer, whose entertainment value shows no signs of sinking over the years. As for his boxing after a 16-month break and now a veteran, we will find out on Saturday. Whether you win or lose, Fury’s magnetic charm will remain intact.
Principality Stadium secures the British heavyweight fight, with a London press conference next week and the undercard to follow.
Anthony Joshua (30-4, 27 KOs) and Tyson Fury (36-2-1, 25 KOs) will fight at Cardiff’s Principality Stadium on Friday, December 11. Netflix will broadcast the full event exclusively after organizers secured a British venue for the heavyweights’ first professional meeting.
Turki Alalshikh announced the fight, and Joshua and Fury are scheduled to attend a London press conference next week. The supporting card will be announced later; no undercard opponents were named in the supplied announcement.
The December date replaces the November plan discussed earlier in negotiations. Wembley had been Joshua’s preferred destination, but Cardiff secured the event following talks over whether the fight would remain in Britain or move to the United States.
Joshua and promoter Eddie Hearn insisted on a UK venue. His contract included that requirement, and their position held despite discussions involving New York, Las Vegas and Los Angeles.
Dana White said: “For more than a decade, boxing fans have been clamoring for the heavyweight showdown between Tyson Fury and Anthony Joshua. Together, they bring 66 wins, 52 knockouts and multiple heavyweight world titles into the ring. On December 11, two of the biggest heavyweights of this generation finally collide and the winner will take a significant place in heavyweight history.”
Netflix to broadcast the full Cardiff card
Netflix’s preference for an evening American broadcast drove the push to stage the fight across the Atlantic. Madison Square Garden emerged as the leading US option before negotiations returned to Britain.
Cardiff keeps the contest on British soil, with a late opening bell expected to accommodate viewers in the United States.
The main event is expected around 1 a.m. UK timealthough the exact time has not been confirmed. If that schedule holds. A 1 a.m. GMT start would put the main event at 8 p.m. ET on Friday, December 11 for viewers on America’s east coast.
The fight is expected to take place beneath Principality Stadium’s retractable roof.
London press conference scheduled for next week
Alalshikh welcomed the agreement after months of negotiations over the event.
“Two of the best heavyweights of this generation, finally in the ring together. This will be one of the biggest fights in boxing history, I am very happy to make this fight happen for the fans,” he said.
Joshua and Fury previously signed a two-fight agreement in 2021. That booking collapsed after an arbitration ruling required Fury to face Deontay Wilder again.
Their December meeting now has a confirmed date, venue and broadcaster. Next week’s press conference will bring both fighters to London, with the remaining card and precise event timetable still to follow.
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