UK boxer of Irish Traveller origin Tyson Fury met his fans in Prague
Tyson Fury, the former heavyweight boxing champion of the world, has begun a second career that he plans to enjoy even more than his first. Recently the British citizen flew to the Czech Republic for a day to share his life story with his fans here, just as the American boxer Mike Tyson did last year.
In November 2015 Fury ended the two-year reign of Ukrainian boxer Wladimir Klitschko to become the world champion of four boxing organizations – the IBF, IBO, WBA and WBO. He then stopped boxing, relinquished some titles and was stripped of others.
Fury returned to the ring last year after a 31-month absence during which he battled being overweight and psychological difficulties. On Sunday, 16 June, he fought a short trial match with German heavyweight Tom Schwarz, who is also unbeaten.
“This is my second career,” Fury said of his successful return to the sport. “Before I just considered this a business, I was tearing it up to win the belts, now I want to enjoy myself more.”
It was not easy for Fury to get back in shape. Last year he accepted a backdated two-year ban for doping, and during suspension from the sport he received treatment for addiction to both non-prescribed and prescription drugs and for psychological problems.
“I have come back from some dark places,” he said during his visit to the Czech capital, without going into detail. “That was a big challenge, the most difficult of my life, because I wasn’t facing off against a rival in the ring, but I was fighting with myself.”
Fury evidently has that dark period behind him and wants to inspire others with his story. The boxer has another challenge ahead of him as well.
He is thinking of a rematch with Deontay Wilder. In December their match in Los Angeles ended in a draw, after which the American remained the champion.
They have already signed the contract for the rematch and during his Prague visit Fury confirmed the rumors that it will happen at the beginning of 2020. “Yes [there will be a rematch], but I am not allowed to discuss the conditions. The contract has 500 pages, most of which are Wilder’s requirements,” Fury laughed, adding that he knows how the match should end up this time.
“One or the other of us must win through a knockout,” the fighter said. His most famous match to date was his triumph over Klitchko.
Fury believes the rematch with Wilder could be an even better fight than his defeat of the Ukrainian. “This will be the best in the world of boxing,” he anticipated.
The former champion said that even if he could choose a competitor from boxing history to go up against, he would not want that rival to be either Ali, or Foreman, or Tyson – the man he wants most to beat is Wilder. “He’s from my era, this will be the biggest duel of all time,” Fury claimed.
During his visit to Prague Fury managed to sample a pork knuckle washed down with beer from Plzeň, toured Prague Castle, and saw the astronomical clock on the Old Town Square. He remained in the Czech capital until the morning of Friday, 21 June.
Fury’s next match is scheduled for 5 October, but it has not yet been officially confirmed against whom. Speculation is that it will be the American heavyweight Jarrell Miller.
