Tyson: Like Ali, I won’t be appreciated till I’m gone
Tyson Fury woke in his hotel bedroom the morning after the incredible night before, checked he wasn’t dreaming and told his pregnant wife Paris: ‘I’m the new heavyweight champion of the world.’
Then he vowed that the old Tyson Fury would remain unaffected by his historic upset of Wladimir Klitschko. In fact, evidence that Fury was still very much his own traveller man came with his preferred means for journeying back to Bolton. He was going by road to rotterdam, then by cross-Channel ferry to Hull.
The most outspoken man in boxing said: ‘I don’t feel any different this morning than I did two weeks ago. But I did have to check that it wasn’t all a dream. Then the reality sank in that I had achieved the dream I’d had since boyhood.
‘since I was hitting my Dad’s hands as soon as I could stand. since the age of nine when everyone in our family said I would become heavyweight champion of the world. since I sparred with my brother in the kitchen as a nine-year-old using only one boxing glove and a tea-towel. since my first amateur fight as a lad when I was already 6ft 4in tall and wearing a beard. I thank Jesus for giving me the world title and the child we wanted. I am living proof of the power of God.’
Then he remembered there are pictures of all the great world heavyweight champions on the walls of his gym and he turned to his father John and said: ‘We’ve got to get a new one now. With the writing underneath: november 28, 2015 ... to be continued.’
That was the phrase used by Klitschko after his dark night, when confirming he would trigger the rematchtch clause in his contract. Tyson will continue to live the dream despite saying: ‘I’ve achieved what I always wanted to do in my life and I don’t care if I don’t win another fight.’
But when asked if he would carry on adhering to the harsh training and sacrificial diet which brought his 6ft 9in frame down to within a pound of Klitschko’s weight, he said: ‘They told me it would be hard to win the world title but even harder to keep it.
‘so I will have to train even harder, if that’s possible. I can enjoy the success and the fame and maybe become a star every- where, including America. And although I didn’t do this for the money, I will earn a lot more in the rematch.’
As champion, Fury can demand the 75 per cent share of the purse which Klitschko pocketed on saturday. The public perception of him intrigues him more.
He says: ‘I do feel I’ve won some people over but Muhammad Ali, who also said some controversial things, was not fully appreciated until heh was gone. It was the same with Lennox Lewis, the same for Wladimir. I expect it will be the same for me.’
His uncle and trainer, Peter Fury, says his protege was at less than 75 per cent of his potential hehere, and he plans more electrifying fights in the future. But not against David Haye, who twice pulled out of bouts against him before his current comeback.
Fury says: ‘That man with no name tortured me and said he’d never give me a pay-day. He will never get a fight with me. not for millions. not even if he becomes mandatory challenger for one of my belts. If the WBA do that, I’ll vacate the title and he can go fight Fred Flintstone or some nobody for next to nothing.’