I nearly drove into a bridge at 190mph Flanagan faces the music in New Orleans but can call tune MCGUIGAN

Fury reveals he was seconds from taking his own life after being crowned heavyweight champion

TERRY FLANAGAN fights abroad for the first time in New Orleans, the hometown of his opponent, unbeaten Regis Prograis.

You might say he has it all to do against the top seed in the super-lightweight World Boxing Super Series. He has, but Flanagan is a tough Manchester lad reaching for the stars.

He has in a sense always been the underdog, unfashionable in a way so many prospects are that do not boast glittering Olympic resumes. He achieved his world TYSON FURY revealed he came within seconds of killing himself after he was crowned heavyweight world champion.

Fury stunned Wladimir Klitschko to unify the belts in Germany three years ago.

But within weeks an addiction to drink and drugs saw him plunge into depression and his life spiral out of control.

“I hit the drink and drugs and I was out all night with the women of the night,” Fury said. “I just wanted to die and wanted to have fun doing it.

“But when the drink wears off it just leaves you with a title dreams three years ago beating Jose Zepeda for the WBO lightweight belt.

Five stout defences followed before dropping a split decision in June to Maurice Hooker after stepping up to superlightweight to fight for the vacant WBO title. Flanagan (right) had been injured, hadn’t fought for 14 months and had bad hangover and even worse depression.

“When you have a goal in mind from being a child and you achieve it... I was lost, I didn’t know what to do.

“I was waking up and didn’t want to be alive, I was making everyone’s life a misery. I would get very, very low at times and start thinking these crazy thoughts.”

He added: “I bought a brand new Ferrari convertible in the summer of 2016.

“I was in it on the highway and I got the car up to 190mph and was heading towards a bridge. I didn’t care about nothing, I just wanted to die so bad. But as I was gone up a weight. He comes here with something to prove, and that is when he is at his best. Prograis is a heavy-handed, walk-you-down, take-you-out type. He’s crude but an incredibly dynamic fighter with 19 KOS in 22 fights. Having stopped Julius Indongo and Juan Velasco in 2018 he will be confident. But heading to the bridge I heard a voice saying, ‘Don’t do this Tyson; think about your kids, your family, your sons and daughter growing up without a dad.’

“Before I turned into the bridge I pulled on to the motorway. I didn’t know what to do, I was shaking,

“I was so afraid. I said I’d never think about taking my own life again.”

Fury, long since stripped of his belts and boxing licence, sought professional help but it was a Halloween party that sparked the comeback that has led to a fight against champion Deontay Wilder in December. Speaking on the Flanagan is very smart, has a good chin and brings speed with him, which allows him to see shots fractionally quicker than a super-lightweight would.

Flanagan has to stay away from the ropes to give himself room to defuse the big shots.

As soon as Prograis sets to punch he needs to stick a jab in his mouth and step sideways or back. In the first six rounds he has to be as evasive as possible.

You have to favour Prograis, probably by late stoppage, but Joe Rogan Experience, he said: “I was out at Halloween last year dressed as a skeleton, but I was 29 and everyone else was younger. I thought, ‘Is this what I want from my life?’

“I left early and went home into a dark room, took the skeleton suit off and prayed to God to help me.

“I’d never begged to God to help me before. I knew I couldn’t do it on my own.

“I almost accepted being an alcoholic was my fate but after praying for 10 minutes, I got up and felt the weight was lifted off my shoulders.

“For the first time I thought I was going to be OK.” Flanagan has a chance if he can take him into the later rounds.

Also on the bill is a second WBSS quarter-final between Ivan Baranchyk and Anthony Yigit, who are also contesting the IBF super-lightweight crown.

This has special significance for us since Josh Taylor will face the winner if he wins his quarterfinal next week against unbeaten Ryan Martin.

HEAVY GOING Fury defeated Klitschko (right) but the British fighter suffered great turmoil after the win