Tyson Fury

It might not have ended exactly how the selfproclaimed “Gypsy King” wanted, but Tyson Fury won more fans in his epic draw with Deontay Wilder than he did in all his previous victories. Like him or loathe him, Fury’s story is one of overcoming adversity and personal demons — tenfold. Fury shocked the world in 2015 by beating Wladimir Klitschko to become a world heavyweight champion, but his decline in the aftermath was painful to watch for fans. Controversial ontroversial comments, drug bans, a personal fight with substance abuse and a public battle e with crippling depression saw the charismatic matic champion fall from grace and seemingly toward oblivion. Fury’s destructive e lifestyle led d to the fighter er ballooning to 181 kg in weight, and his boxing career looked over. So his performance in Las Vegas at the weekend against a formidable opponent in Wilder makes his story all the more incredible. In beating his demons and getting back into shape, he had already won a monumental battle. Once in the ring, Fury outboxed his much-favored opponent for large parts of the fight and even picked himself up off the canvas twice — the second time when it looked looke like he had been knocked out cold. It was only the second time that Wild Wilder had been taken the f full distance in a bout. Whether Fury gets a rematch with the American remains t to be seen. But in the eyes of boxing fans around the world, he etched his name in the pantheon of greats, an inspiratio inspiration to millions, simply b by entering the ring a at the weekend.