The challenge for Tyson Fury on his return to the ring is “not money, not glory” but conquering his own demons to immerse himself again in a sport in which he has arguably more boxing talent than any other heavyweight.
Tyson Fury’s return to the ring makes the heavyweight division so much more intriguing CREDIT: AFP
Much has changed since Dusseldorf, November 2015, when when he outboxed Wladimir Klitschko to claim three world title belts and the No 1 position in the division: he has a new trainer in Ben Davison, ballooned – and dropped – in weight, appears to have conquered his mental demons, and has fought a draining battle with UK-Anti-Doping, finally disposed of with a backdated two-year suspension.
It is back to business on June 9, in Manchester, and a climb again to the summit begins again.
Fury said: “Not everything in life is about money and I realise that everything can be taken away with the flick of a switch. So you have to be very thankful for being healthy, happy in life. The rest of it is a bonus.”
The return match with Klitschko, which never happened, would have netted him up to £10 million.
Fury explained: “It wasn’t about money, I just didn’t want to box anymore but now I do so hopefully I will do what I have got to do.
Fury still has his fans CREDIT: JULIAN SIMMONDS
“I don’t care about money, I don’t care about fame, I don’t care about glory. I’m not interested in having a fast car and a suit.”
But Fury, 20 stone and 6ft 9ins, does care about where he now stands in the division, and he appears to be displaying a more acute sense of his own PR since signalling his second coming 11 days ago.
“Someone once told me that the only difference between winning and losing is how you feel afterwards. As long as you give your best effort and you do what you can do, there is no shame in losing a fight. There is no shame in losing to a better man in a fight, is there? If a man is too good for me, I shake his hand and say, ‘You were too good for me, mate, good man. Let’s go and get a beer’.
“But if I am too good for him then I expect the same. Sportsmanlike conduct I think it is called.”
Fury’s weight ballooned during his time away CREDIT: RICKY HATTON
Under 25-year-old Davison, Fury has had a happy five months.
“I was given a chance so I am giving Ben a chance and so far he has come through with flying colours. I am happier than I have ever been in trainings camp and he is one of the best trainers I have ever worked with. We’re like two pieces of steel sharpening each other, he teaches me and I teach him.”
An opponent for his June 9 comeback, after 30 months away, is yet to be confirmed. But he is surveying what lies ahead in the heavyweight landscape. Anthony Joshua, holder of the three belts Fury took from Klitschko, Deontay Wilder, the World Boxing Council king, and potential challengers David Haye, Alexander Povetkin and Dillian Whyte. Even his own cousin, Hughie Fury, who, he says, he would never fight, though they have sparred together.
Fury wants to reclaim his belts CREDIT: AP
“They are all ranked fairly. It’s a pick of who you want to put in first place to last place. On the night, any one of them is capable of beating the other. You never can tell who is the toughest until you’re in there with them.”
The best thing about being back, assures Fury, is that he is living the life. Healthy, happy, and with ambition.
“Not all comebacks are successful are they? No. I don’t think it will be tougher for me than it already is. I can only take one day at a time and one fight at a time. If I win, I win, if I don’t, I don’t.”
But one thing is for sure – Fury’s re-emergence makes the heavyweight division so much more intriguing.
