BORDER FURY
Tyson‘s strip-search ordeal ahead of Wilder USA clash
TYSON FURY fought for two years to obtain a USA visa — then was strip-searched during a four-hour interrogation ordeal when he finally touched down.
The former heavyweight world champion has based himself in America for two months ahead of his title challenge against Deontay Wilder on Saturday.
Following the promotional tour in London, New York and Los Angeles, Fury headed for the Big Bear mountains to train at altitude of 7,000 feet.
But after struggling with the breathless conditions, he returned to sea level to train just seven miles from the Staples Centre in LA, where he will bid to upset knockout artist Wilder.
And Fury revealed the battle he faced to convince the authorities to let him in following his confrontation with Wilder after the American’s win over Artur Szpilka in New York in 2016.
Fury said: “I do not even have a criminal record but I struggled to get a visa to come over.
“I was denied access for over two years to get into the USA on whatever grounds they wanted – if they say it’s Tuesday then it’s Tuesday.
“When I arrived at customs last month I was taken into the backroom and strip-searched – they said I looked like a shady character.
“I was held up at the airport for about four and a half hours and it took me nearly two-and-a-half years to get a visa because they said I could have instigated a riot when I attended the Wilder fight. I had to have loads of meetings and eventually I was allowed in.”
Following his belated Stateside stint, Fury claims he plans to continue his career in America – and snub his home country.
Should he dethrone Wilder he is contractually obliged to a rematch with the 33-year-old – a fight that would again take place in the American’s backyard.
But Fury insisted even a future unification clash with fellow countryman Anthony Joshua wouldn’t lure him back to Britain.
He said: “Even if I win I will leave the belt here as I will stay here. “I will not be boxing in England any more, you heard it here first. I am the next pay-per-view star of America after I beat Deontay Wilder. This is the land of opportunity.”
One man who will not be ringside for Fury’s third fight since his comeback is his dad John.
Fury Snr gouged a man’s eye out in 2011 and served four years of an 11-year prison sentence. Since his release he has been a regular in his son’s corner, including for his shock defeat of Wladimir Klitschko in 2015.
But on Saturday, Fury will have rookie trainer Ben Davison in his corner alongside legendary coach Freddie Roach (above) and British boxing hero Ricky Hatton.
And he said: “John could never have come. He has never even tried to get a visa to come to America.
“My dad would never even try to get in the USA, he has a section 18 on his record [for GBH]. That is definitely too serious to get you in and he is not stupid enough to try to sneak in.”