Tyson Fury believes his win over Wladimir Klitschko in 2015 was a "curse" and has claimed it is "s****y" not being able to live a normal life since.
The 'Gypsy King' is the reigning WBC heavyweight champion and is seen as the leading fighter in the division after rising to the top without defeat. However, it has not all been plain sailing for Fury, who has a remarkable story of bouncing back from the depths of mental health problems and addiction to rise and become one of the United Kingdom's most-popular athletes.
Seven years ago, Fury produced one of the best performances from a British fighter ever to dominate boxing legend Klitschko on foreign soil and pick up the unified world titles. However, it sparked a period out of the ring for the heavyweight star, who took a two-and-a-half year break from action before returning in 2018, after struggling with his mental health.
The champion has admitted he didn't want the fame that came with being a leading fighter. “I think it was a s*** night, to be honest. I think it was like a curse,” Fury said on The MMA Hour when asked to reflect on the seven-year anniversary of his famous upset win. “It’s been a pretty s**** seven years since. It was a fantastic 27 years leading to it but a s***** seven years since. It’s almost been a curse beating Wladimir Klitschko.
“You say I’ve got everything I ever wanted; I never really wanted all the fame and all the s**** that comes with being a champion, that’s not what it was about. I got everything I wanted by beating Klitschko – just getting that victory over him. You don’t own your own life anymore, you can’t go anywhere, you can’t live a normal life. So, it’s not what I wanted and it’s not a great life – it sucks d***.
“It’s not good because you don’t have your own life anymore. I’m stuck where I have to be tortured by people wherever I go. So, yeah, it’s not all what I wanted, I didn’t really know what I was getting myself into, to be fair.”
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Fury ballooned in weight following the win and tipped the scales at over 400lb after struggling with life outside of the ring. But he is back and - after considering retirement - will return to the ring against Derek Chisora this weekend at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium.
The 'Gypsy King' has admitted he has decided to continue fighting after struggling to deal with life without the sport after taking time away from the ring. “I really meant retirement. I couldn’t have been more sure of something in my life. Without boxing, I just felt I didn’t have any purpose in my life anymore,” Fury added. “I have to train every day. I’m boxing for no reason, for no gain, for no goals. Without boxing, I’m nothing. I have nothing else.”
