Daily Mirror (Northern Ireland)
FAST & FURIOUS VISIT BY EX-CHAMP TYSON
Fighter puts gloves back on in Belfast gym
FORMER heavyweight world champion Tyson Fury ended his year-long exile from boxing in a Belfast gym yesterday.
Fury – who hasn’t fought since beating Wladimir Klitschko back in 2015 – called in for a light training session at St Paul’s ABC in Andersonstown.
It was the first time in 12 months the Mancunian had been in a gym.
The 29-year-old worked on the treadmill and heavy bags and admitted afterwards that he is considering a return to the ring following a 22-month absence.
Fury told Belfast Boxers: “I am just ticking over and losing a bit of weight. I have 5st to lose so it is a long way back.
“Hopefully I can get the weight down and then decide whether to return or not.
“But don’t call it a comeback”
Fury - who fought as an amateur out of Holy Family Boxing Club - said he was delighted to be back in the city. He said: “I have had plenty of professional and amateur fights here. I have been coming back and forward for 20 years.
“Thank you to St Paul’s for having me today - it has been an honour.”
St Paul’s coach Ralph Mckay said: “It was brilliant having a former world champion in our gym,”
“The visit just sort of happened through some contacts we have, and we were delighted Tyson wanted to train with us.
“He was on the treadmill and did some bag work. He said he just wanted to loosen up a bit as it was the first time he had been in a gym in 12 months.
“He admitted he has some weight to lose but he wants to get back in the ring and box again, so hopefully we’ll see him back in action soon.”
Fury is due to appear before UK Anti-doping next month in a hearing that could determine his future in the sport after he was charged in June last year.
He has always denied doping and has threatened to sue UKAD.