RONNIE’S ‘FARCICAL’ BREAK
Tyson hopes display against Wilder will get fans onside again
TYSON FURY is confident his performance against Deontay Wilder will complete his rehabilitation from pugilistic pariah to British sporting hero.
Fury, 30, would have returned home a world champion for a second time, had it not been for controversial scoring in Los Angeles.
Despite being knocked down twice, he dominated the fight, only to be cruelly denied victory by the judges.
When he defeated Wladimir Klitschko three years ago (with his belts, right), Fury’s homophonic, sexist and antisemitic rants turned the public against him. His views led to calls for him to be removed from the Sports Personality of the Year shortlist, an award for which he is again among the favourites at the December 16 ceremony.
And Fury said: “Whatever happened, yesterday is history, so I’m just looking forward to today and tomorrow.
“We never know how we’re going to feel but I’m happy. Everything I trained for, I executed, and everything we did, we did.
“I couldn’t have done any better, I tried my heart out.
“I think it’s about time people saw the real Tyson Fury – they’ve been seeing the real me since I came back. I hope everyone enjoyed the fight and I’ll be back stronger.
“I’ve definitely got the recognition from the fans and I feel like I’ve got more support than I’ve ever had.”
Before challenging Wilder, Fury claimed he was a bigger draw in America than the country’s homegrown champion.
He endeared himself further to fans on both sides of the Atlantic, first by showing such resilience to rise from the canvas in the final round, and then by belting out a rendition of Don McLean’s ‘American Pie’ at the post-fight press conference. And Fury RONNIE O’SULLIVAN has been labelled “pathetic, embarrassing, deluded and ridiculous” by supremo Barry Hearn over his plan for a breakaway tour.
The Rocket (left), eyeing a record seventh UK title, whitewashed China’s Zhou Yuelong 6-0 to reach the last added: “I think the fight had a massive impact on America. Everybody there has heard the story of Tyson Fury, they’ve 16 in York. But the five-time world champion’s suggestion he could quit the main tour and take others with him was blasted by the World Snooker chairman.
Hearn said: “None of his comments on this make any sense at all, they are farcical, and I find it embarrassing for him. I actually feel sorry for heard about the legend, but now they’ve seen him. “They now know why – I’ve got the engaging personality. I’m just being myself, I’m not trying to act up or anything.
“As you saw in there, I was putting my hands behind my back and my hands in the air. “Even when I was knocked down, I got straight back up and put my hands behind my back again. I am an entertainer. “It was a great fight and I’m sure the fans enjoyed it. It was a treat for them and refreshing to see two unbeaten world champions at each other, going toe to toe.” him, he is deluded and has no support.
“Man to man, don’t embarrass yourself with these pathetic suggestions.
“It is a lame duck idea, dead in the water.
“It is painfully embarrassing listening to his ridiculous rants and it is time he grew up a bit.
“I can tell you that not one other player on tour will trust Ronnie O’Sullivan to organise a tour on their behalf.”
2011 UK champion Judd Trump scoffed: “I don’t see any support for it.
“Ronnie is living on a different planet to the rest of us. Money is not an issue to him – he can take chances. But he is on his own.”