The Reason Behind Tyson Fury’s Fitness: Despite His Drinking, How Did the ‘Gypsy King’ Become the Heavyweight Champion of the World

When the gong goes off on the 28th of October, Tyson Fury will enter a fight that he’s been heavily criticized for. After having held the WBC title in the heavyweight class, he clashes against a fighter who’s never fought a pro matchup. UFC fame Francis Ngannou in his maiden boxing fight will face off against Fury at an arena in Saudi’s Riyadh. But non-normative propositions are not uncommon for Tyson Fury.

When one imagines a heavyweight boxer, one imagines someone with a great height and a body that reads aloud the physique of a heavyweight. However, that’s not Tyson Fury. But this has not stopped him from contesting his name as one of the best fighters of this era. Multiple criticisms of him for how he looks, a notable one that has come his way is for his drinking habits. But again, has that stopped him from being the champion that he is?

A toast and beyond for Tyson Fury and his boxing career

In an episode of his Netflix show, ‘At Home with The Furys’, ‘Gypsy King’ Fury said, “Two, three pints I’m gone, especially beer.” However, this line does not entirely encapsulate the dependence the fighter has on alcohol. He familiarized the world with his drinking and drug problem in 2015. After his victory over Wladimir Klitschko, it was revealed that the fighter was suffering from depression and drug use. This led him to be banned from the sport in the following year.

His issues were so severe that he even contemplated suicide. That was 2016 though. Ever since then, he’s taken leaps that the world stands in awe of. Rising from the ashes, embarking on the journey of healing, today he emerges as a fighter whose story echoes with each powerful jab he takes. And the title he’s held since 2020 is symbolic of that battle he fought in his life. But what was, rather, who was instrumental in his journey through such adversaries?

With a network of support by his side, Gypsy King fought through

“Last time that Tyson retired, a lot went on,” said his father, John Fury. When he hit rock bottom, “He went 10 stone over his body weight. Drinking non-stop, eating rubbish,” continued John. With his father and wife, Paris Fury, by his side, he’s emerged through it all. Despite moving ahead from the dark trenches and being at the pinnacle of success, his past still haunts his near ones. On an episode of the reality show, the senior Fury member implored how the past still worries him.

He said, “When I see Tyson drinking I’m looking back and I’m observing because I know what it could lead to. I’m thinking to myself ‘Last time we did this or he did this it didn’t well’. It’s caused so many problems in the past has alcohol. Last time Tyson retired he wasn’t in a good place, on the fear of him going back there I couldn’t handle. The strength is gone, I couldn’t deal with it. I’d rather be dead than go down that road again, end of.”

Also Read: While Lauding His Son Tyson Fury for Winning $107 Million Fights, John Fury Makes Bold Prediction for Potential Deontay Wilder vs. Oleksandr Usyk

Now that he’s back to alcohol in moderation, of course, there remain concerns of history repeating itself. But the growth the fighter has shown through 2017 has otherwise to prove. Despite the criticism he’s been subjected to over the years, he’s made sure the world knows that he’s here to stay. And he’s here to win. With the fight outlined against Francis Ngannou and then his biggest rival, Oleksandr Usyk, he furthers this story.

What do you think of Tyson Fury’s story through all of these upheavals? Let us know in the comments section below.

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