Daily Mirror (Northern Ireland)
TYSON: I’M A FREAK OF NATURE
Fury says boxing has never seen anything like him and reveals praise from Roy Jones Junior
TYSON FURY has been told his talent is unnatural by ring legend Roy Jones Junior.
Jones wrote his name into the record books when he became only the second fighter after Bob Fitzsimmons to win the middleweight and heavyweight world titles.
The American six-time and fourweight champ visited Fury at his camp at Ricky Hatton’s Hyde gym ahead of tonight’s comeback at Manchester Arena and marvelled at his speed.
“He said it’s unnatural for someone so big to have so much movement, talent and skill,” said Fury (right), who was humbled by Jones’ visit.
“He said he has never seen it ever before. He’s been around boxing all his life and never seen anything like me.
“It’s always nice to be appreciated, especially by someone as legendary as Roy Jones.
“He was working over here, doing a few shows and said he wanted to meet me. He drove all the way down from Newcastle to Manchester to have lunch with me and that was a big compliment. They don’t come much bigger than Roy Jones Junior.”
Fury is adamant he can conquer the world again through his speed and boxing brain, despite his twoand-a-half-year lay-off, claiming he would outwit Anthony Joshua and Deontay Wilder.
“There ain’t been no one like me – ever,” said the unbeaten 29-yearold, who is back to his bullish self after mental health problems. There ain’t been a 6ft 9in southpaw-orthodox counterpunching puncher, who has got the brain and movement of a middleweight. I am a freak of nature.”
Fury should easily beat Albanian cruiserweight Sefer Seferi, who is tiny by comparison.
Tonight will not answer any questions about how good Fury is or prove he can become world champion again without his uncle, former mentor and trainer Peter Fury.
He can be excused one duff opponent because he has been out for so long, but will need to step up to earn a shot at Joshua or Wilder. Fury says those fights must happen because it would be a “travesty” if the two main champions avoided him.
“Let’s just get in there and fight it out, whoever wins, wins,” he said. if we don’t.”“it would be a travesty