The unusual life of Tyson Fury: Lobsters, saunas, rabbits, yet lacking ‘fond memories’ of the sport.
WHEN TYSON FURY steps back into the ring on Saturday, he will draw the attention of many who typically do not follow boxing.
This is due to Fury’s (34-2-1, 24 KOs) remarkable star power and notoriety, which have led to the creation of two documentary seasons about his life on Netflix, which will also broadcast Saturday’s non-title bout against Arslanbek Makhmudov [Netflix, 10 p.m. U.K., 2 p.m. ET in U.S].
In addition to his accomplishments in the ring, including five victories in world title fights, his popularity can be attributed to his charisma, showmanship, and entertaining, at times controversial, remarks.
Fans tune in not only for his matches but also for ‘The Gypsy King’ persona, who has made grand entrances on a throne, performed songs in the ring post-fight, and keeps audiences engaged with his unpredictability regarding his next words or actions.
Consider his approach to preparing for his upcoming comeback, which he claims is aimed at “making boxing great again” following the sport’s noticeable gap during his absence. After spending the last three months training in Thailand without a coach, Fury has not disclosed who will be in his corner at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium for his matchup against Russian Makhmudov (21-2, 19 KOs), marking his first fight since a points defeat to world No. 1 Oleksandr Usyk in December 2024.
Fury, 37, recently shared with ESPN during a call from his training camp: “Training is going very well over here. When I first arrived in Thailand, I had no plans to box [again], zero boxing. I came here for a holiday with my family over Christmas, and one thing led to another, and I haven’t returned home since. It’s been a nice little Christmas holiday. It’s positive, and what’s not to enjoy in Thailand.”
“It doesn’t matter who will be in the corner, just some local gym guy, whoever is available that night.”
Other controversies have been more significant. Eleven years ago, he faced scrutiny following backlash over anti-gay remarks he made. He has also received criticism for sexist comments. Fury denied attempting to “hurt anybody” after a petition gathered thousands of signatures calling for his removal from the 2015 BBC Sports Personality of the Year, an award for which he was nominated after defeating Wladimir Klitschko. He faced a positive test for cocaine but denied knowingly consuming a banned substance, despite elevated levels of nandrolone metabolites found in his system prior to his victory over Klitschko. In 2017, he accepted a back-dated two-year ban, which UK Anti-Doping described as “a compromise.”
FURY HAS BEEN unconventional and surprising since he turned professional at the age of 20 in December 2008. On the undercard of Carl Froch’s points victory over Jean Pascal, Fury defeated Bela Gyongyosi with a powerful left to the body in two rounds.
“I was satisfied with my pro debut considering I had just returned from my honeymoon on the Wednesday before the Saturday fight,” Fury remarked.
Many in the British boxing media were not present to witness his debut at the Nottingham Arena, as Amir Khan was competing elsewhere in England. Fury’s professional debut nearly went unnoticed, with the week’s attention focused on Froch’s first world title fight and Khan’s comeback after losing his unbeaten record.
However, interest in Fury gradually grew, fueled by his trash talk that once resulted in a fine from the British Boxing Board of Control for swearing, leading him to tape his mouth shut at a subsequent press conference in 2014.
During his early professional years, Fury accidentally punched himself in the face with an uppercut during a bout against Lee Swaby in 2009, later stating: “I’m not going to beat myself up about it.”
Fury relentlessly taunted Klitschko, the reigning world champion, long before their fight in 2015. He had served as a sparring partner for Klitschko during one of his training camps in Austria in 2011. After defeating local favorite Martin Rogan in Belfast in 2012, Fury claimed: “I believe I’ve already got one over on him [Klitschko]. We had a sauna competition at his training camp in Austria, and I mentally broke him down.”
“I nearly passed out in the sauna before I managed to leave. We were in there with some of his training team, and everyone else was getting out after 10 minutes.”
“He and I stayed in. It reached 15 minutes, and I had to count down the seconds in my head just to endure it.”
“I was applying oil to myself, and eventually, he got up in a huff and exited without speaking to anyone. I had outdone him. I’ve observed Wladimir at his training camp, and I know how to defeat him.”
IN JULY 2015, Fury told Klitschko at a news conference: “You possess as much charisma as my underpants. The entirety of Europe desires to see you lose. You appear old — have you had Botox? You speak 47 different languages, for what? You’re still a robotic individual. You’re not entertaining or exciting to watch.”
Months later, Fury was tardy for another news conference in London to announce his first world title fight against Klitschko. Poor punctuality was not uncommon, but his entrance was astonishing. Fury burst into the room dressed as Batman, then leaped down from the top table and engaged in a mock altercation with a man dressed as The Joker.
Fury then turned to a bewildered Klitschko, declared ‘you’re next’, and exited.
After leaving with The Joker, Fury re-entered the conference room in a formal suit and said: “Apologies for my lateness.”
Klitschko labeled Fury a clown, but the challenger had only just begun his antics.
During fight week in November, Fury sang to Klitschko and then headbutted a melon for a social media post. On the day of the fight, he threatened to withdraw unless a layer of the ring apron was removed.
After winning against Klitschko by points, Fury stated: “I could see in his eyes tonight that he was going to lose the fight, and he recognized the new, hungry champion within me. Will it change me? I’m the heavyweight champion, and I still wear Slazenger socks.”
Fury had outboxed Klitschko and gained international recognition, yet a few weeks ago he told ESPN: “I don’t really have fond memories of any of them [his fights]; I don’t reflect on them after the event, which is strange to say. They could be thrilling fights, and I knock them out, but after the event, I don’t think about them. I suppose my Everest was Wladimir Klitschko because I became world champion, and everything else has been a bonus since then.”
In the following decade, Fury has gone on to kiss opponents at weigh-ins, licked blood off Deontay Wilder’s shoulder during a world title fight, released lobsters (named Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi) at a seafood restaurant near a beach in Spain, performed in the ring after numerous fights, and recently tickled Makhmudov under his chin. He has referred to opponents and rivals as dossers, sausages, big stiff idiots, bodybuilders, donkeys, robots, and more recently called Usyk a rabbit.
It is unsurprising that Netflix has produced two seasons featuring the boxer, whose entertainment value has shown no signs of diminishing over the years. As for the state of his boxing after a 16-month hiatus, and with him now being a veteran, we will find out on Saturday. Regardless of the outcome, Fury’s magnetic allure will remain unchanged.
