When I grow up I’ll be a world champion boxer
‘Quiet and determined’ Tyson Fury told teacher ambition at age of nine
TYSON Fury was just nine when he told his primary school teacher: “I’m going to be a world champion boxer.” Now 33, Tyson – who turned up to class dressed as movie hero Rambo for World Book Day – will defend his WBC heavyweight title in Las Vegas tomorrow. And Jane Foddy, who taught him for two years, has told of her pride, saying: “He was just so strong-willed and determined. He told me ‘I want to be a world champion boxer’. Not just a boxer but world champion. You think ‘that’s somebody who knows what they want to do’.” Tyson, who takes on Deontay Wilder at 2am UK time, went to Styal Primary School, near Wilmslow, Cheshire. Born prematurely weighing just 1lb, he was soon head and shoulders above his peers. Mrs Foddy recalled: “He was so tall. He was six but he looked more like 11. He was quiet, well mannered. “He loved playtimes. Because he was so big, other boys would taunt him to get him to react. We taught him to walk away. He couldn’t risk hurting anybody because he was so strong.” She said he excelled at sport, including football: “He had a big pair of gloves and blocked the goal.” In his autobiography he called Styal “a great primary school”, adding: “I was liked by all the teachers.” Years later, when he heard Mrs Foddy was retiring, Tyson went to see her – though the 6ft 7ins boxer struggled to get through the door.
She said: “It was a delight to see him, it was lovely. Everyone at the school is so proud of him.”
But as he prepares to take on American Wilder, 35, she added: “I just don’t want him to get hurt.”
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