ON TOP OF THE WORLD
The woman who saved King Tyson
THE woman behind Tyson Fury’s remarkable journey from manic depressive to world heavyweight champion last night cried tears of joy – and said it proved anyone can battle back from dark times.
Paris Fury, the 6ft 9in-tall boxer’s glamorous wife, was ringside to see her teenage sweetheart defeat Deontay Wilder in their Las Vegas rematch.
She is credited with helping the 31-year-old British heavyweight – known as The Gypsy King – battle back from depression.
The 29-year-old, who has found fame on ITV’s Meet The Furys documentary, hopes his remarkable victory at the MGM Grand will inspire people suffering from mental health issues.
She said: “Tyson is a positive story of this mental health problem.
“He went through such a dark time. He was so close to killing himself at times.
“He has come round full circle and come back to himself, so it’s just to put that message out there that you can get through it.
“You should never ever hide away and succumb to the darkness.”
Emotional Paris, who sobbed ringside after the seventh-round victory, nursed her husband back to health after his public battles with depression.
It led to drug addiction, alcohol abuse and his weight ballooning to 27 stone.
The pair met at a travellers’ wedding when she was 15 and he was 17 and have five children – Prince John James, Prince Tyson Fury II, Prince Adonis Amaziah,
Valencia Amber and Venezuela. She said: “He does get down still. I don’t think it [depression] is a curable problem, I think it is something that you learn to live with.
“I also think it’s hereditary. His family suffered from it in the past and he has always been the same.
“As a young teenager when we were first going out I could see highs and lows.
“It’s made it better that I know it’s a diagnosed problem because before I used to think, ‘shake it off, what are you doing, why have you got a problem, you’re just being selfish’.
“I do think it’s a selfish disease but I don’t think the person is selfish any more. I just think it’s one of those things.
“It’s hard on everyone around them but you’ve got to be supportive because look at the outcome.”
Tyson, who regained the title he first won againstWladimir Klitschko in 2015, entered the ring in flamboyant style, dressed as a king and carried into the 16,000-seater arena on a golden throne.
And after living up to his own billing by beating his previously unbeaten opponent, a jubilant Fury serenaded Paris and thousands of his fans with a rendition of Don McLean’s American Pie.
He sang for nearly two minutes before signing off with “Thank you, Las Vegas”.
His American adventure may not be coming to an end just yet though.
Within minutes of the fight ending Donald Trump tweeted an invitation to theWhite House.
He said: “That was a great fight – two great fighters. It was really very exciting. Maybe we have to bring them both to the White House? I think we’ll do that.”