Tyson Fury is a British heavyweight boxer who has held several world title belts, but missed out on becoming crowned undisputed world heavyweight champion after losing to Oleksandr Usyk in May 2024.
He is the second fighter after Riddick Bowe to win all four recognised world titles having previously held the WBA, IBF and WBO belts.
Fury is credited for resurrecting the heavyweight division after ending an 11-year reign of Wladimir Klitschko in 2015 with a unanimous decision victory in Dusseldorf, Germany.
He is the only British fighter to have been named Ring Magazine Fighter of the Year on two occasions [2015 and 2020].
After a three-year hiatus from the ring, Fury returned in 2018 and in just his third fight back he challenged Wilder for the WBC title. The fight would end in controversial circumstances with the bout scored as a split-draw in Los Angeles at the Staples Center.
Instead of accepting an immediate rematch, Fury signed a five-fight deal with Bob Arum's Top Rank, which would see all his fights streamed on ESPN and ESPN+. The contract is believed to be worth $100million.
Under the Top Rank banner, Fury won all five of his fights against Tom Schwartz, Otto Wallin and Wilder in Las Vegas (twice) - his new fighting home - and Dillian Whyte.
A spectacular knockout of Whyte in April 2022, in front of 94,000 fans at Wembley Stadium, was a UK record for an attended boxing fight.
He announced his retirement in August 2022, which saw him relinquish his Ring heavyweight title. But returned to action just four months later to beat Derek Chisora and retain his WBC heavyweight belt.
In October 2023, Fury was knocked down in an exhibition fight with Professional Fighters League star Francis Ngannou. Fury went on to win on points, despite the Cameroon-born fighter dominating for much of the 10-round bout contest.
Fury finally lost his unbeaten record in May 2024, when Usyk added Fury’s WBC belt to his WBA, WBO and IBF titles with a split decision victory that crowns the Ukrainian as the division’s first undisputed champion for almost a quarter of a century.
As an amateur Fury represented Ireland and England. His amateur career was relatively short although he had four defeats on his record, including one to former British rival David Price.
Liverpudlian Price was selected ahead of Fury for the 2008 Olympics in Beijing and won a bronze medal, but it is Fury who has enjoyed a much more decorated pro career.
Fury won the 2008 ABA super-heavyweight title but decided against staying around for the 2012 Olympics and turned pro the same year. He ended his amateur career with a 31-4 record.
Fury boxed for Jimmy Egan's Boxing Academy in Wythenshawe and boxed for a brief spell in Northern Ireland at the Holy Family Boxing Club in Belfast.
The zenith of Fury's career before his triumph over Wilder was his win in Germany against Klitschko in November 2015.
Few outside of his close circle gave Tyson a chance, especially as the match had been made in Germany - a country seen as Klitschko's second home after Ukraine.
As a 4-1 betting outsider, Fury upset the long-reigning heavyweight champion via unanimous decision.
The Ukrainian had held a recognised world title since 2006 but had few answers against Fury, as the Traveller nullified Klitschko's attacking threat while building a lead on the cards. He eventually cruised to a 115-112 (twice), 116-11 win on the cards at the Esprit Arena in Dusseldorf.
Other notable wins for Fury include two victories over Derek 'War' Chisora for the British and European titles. The second win over Chisora in 2014 was a third world title eliminator for Fury and secured him his chance to take on Klitschko.
When Fury is asked about his toughest fight inside the ring, he admits it is not Wilder nor Klitschko but in fact Philly's Steve Cunningham.
The pair fought each other in 2014 and Fury nearly tasted defeat after tasting the canvas in round two by Cunningham - trained by the late Naazim Richardson.
Fury and Wilder have fought each other three times, the first being in 2018 at the iconic Staples Center. There was huge anticipation for both fights, especially the first with Fury returning to fight for the WBC world title after just two warm-up fights following his time out the ring.
The "Gypsy King" had not fought at world level since 2015 against Klitschko after vacating the WBA, IBF, WBO and IBO world titles because of mental health struggles, which led to drug and alcohol abuse.
On his return to the big stage, Fury had shredded over 100-pounds, nearly the equivalent of Josh Warrington in weight, and went into the bout as a huge underdog.
Wilder entered the fight with a record of 40-0 (39-0) and had been considered as the biggest heavyweight puncher since Mike Tyson with knockout victories over Luis Ortiz and Bermane Stiverne. Meanwhile, Fury was 27-0 (19) with his previous victory being against Francesco Pianeta in Belfast.
After Fury's win in 2018, Wilder invaded the ring and declared: "We're ready now, this fight will happen. It's on baby, this is what we've been waiting for right here, the best fighting the best."
The fight, which took place on December 1, 2018, was played out in front of 17,698 in Los Angeles, California. It was the first time two undefeated world heavyweight champions had faced off in a ring in the modern era.
Fury, who weighed in at 256.5-pounds, boxed brilliantly from the outside and used his height and reach to befuddle Wilder as he stayed out of range and built up a lead on the cards.
The game plan, orchestrated by Ben Davison and with the assistance of Freddie Roach, was going perfect until Wilder dropped Fury in the ninth with a short-left hook-overhand right combination.
Fury was up quickly to beat the count and won the following two rounds for most observers with Wilder overthrowing the right hand and rushing his punch selection.
In the final stanza however, Wilder uncorked a right-left combo from the Gods which left Fury flat on his back. The American kissed his gloves looking into the camera with Fury not moving as the referee Jack Reiss took up the count.
Astonishingly, Fury somehow beat the count in what was the most iconic moment in recent years and finished the round on top. The fight went to the cards with one judge seeing it 114-112 for Fury and another scoring for Wilder 115-111.
British judge Phil Edwards scored it 113-113 meaning the result was a split-draw, a decision that was met with boos from most fans in the arena.
The rematch took place in February 2020 - this time the fight would take place at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas.
Going into the bout, Wilder claimed the referee was slow in counting Fury out in the first fight as the latter somehow regained his feet and composure in the final round.
In a shock move, Fury decided to replace good friend Davison with SugarHill Steward as his trainer alongside Cousin Andy Lee. It was a return to the Kronk Gym for Fury, who had previously spent time there with the great Emanuel Steward.
Fury, who entered the fight at 273-pounds, won the rematch in emphatic fashion, forcing a seventh-round stoppage over Wilder, who weighed in at a career-heaviest (231-pounds).
The fight, which was against on pay-per-view, generated the biggest buys for a heavyweight bout since Lewis' win over Tyson in 2002 with an estimated 1.2 million sales, according to Arum.
Fury was expected to fight Wilder for a third time towards the end of 2020. With this never coming to fruition, the plans turned to the mammoth unification bout against Anthony Joshua.
After months of negotiations, the bout was finally agreed upon. The teams settled on Saudi Arabia as the host country of the event, with a proposed date of August 14, 2021.
Fury vs Wilder 3 was agreed to take place on July 24 at the T-Mobile Arena in Nevada, Las Vegas but got moved to October 9 after Fury tested positive for Covid-19.
Despite rising to his feet almost immediately, Fury was on unsteady legs in the moments afterwards before getting behind his jab, keen to stay out of range of the former UFC heavyweight champion.
Fury ate a few more big shots and ended the fight with a cut above his forehead and a welt under his left eye.
But the Briton, whose world title was not on the line, was spared what would have been one of the biggest upsets of all-time after being given the nod 96-93 and 95-94 on two scorecards, as the third judge sided with Ngannou 95-94 following an unexpectedly keenly contested 10-round encounter.
“That definitely wasn’t in the script,” Fury said in the ring immediately after.
“Francis is a hell of a fighter; strong, a big puncher and a lot better boxer than we all thought he would ever be. He’s a very awkward man and a I respect him a lot – before the fight and afterwards.
“He’s given me one of my toughest fights in the last 10 years. I don’t know how close it was but I got the win and that’s what it is. No excuses, Francis caught me with some good punches, fair play to him.”
Usyk became undisputed world heavyweight champion after a split decision victory over Tyson Fury in an enthralling night in Riyadh on May 18, 2024.
Fury appeared to have taken control midway through the fight but Usyk came on strong and swung the contest in his favour with a powerful ninth round in which the Briton was saved by the bell.
Landing with hard left hands – his most effective shot – he had Fury in serious trouble and once a 10 count had finished, the three minutes was up to spare the pre-fight favourite any further damage.
Fury recovered but it was a critical round that swung the contest in Usyk’s favour, winning 115-112 and 114-113 on two scorecards while the third judge saw it as 114-113 against him.
It was a captivating fight full of momentum swings and drama with Ukrainian’s front foot gameplan and relentless pursuit of the favourite successful in adding the WBC belt to the WBA, IBF and WBO belts he already possessed.
Right from the start Usyk, who was conceded nearly three stones in weight and six inches in height, took the centre of the ring and was more aggressive.
Fury play acted against the ropes and started laughing as Usyk applied pressure and the second round continued along the same theme of the Briton getting backed up against the ropes.
The Gypsy King continued to be stalked around the ring as Usyk made good on his promise not to leave him alone.
Fury opened round four with solid work to the body and then made Usyk hesitate with a sharp uppercut, looking relaxed as he moved around and picked his shots with the jab often finding its target.
Another powerful body shot made an impact, Fury then fired a right uppercut and having conceded the opening rounds, the WBC champion was now in control.
The firth round was Fury’s best yet and in the sixth for the first time Usyk went into retreat, stung by two right uppercuts that left him needing to regroup against the ropes.
Usyk landed left hands to the body and head in the seventh as he resumed his chase of the bookmakers’ favourite and the round ended with him taking the fight, pinning him in the corner.
And the Ukrainian took his revival into the eighth as he continued to land with hard shots, directing one right on the nose to leave Fury touching his nose and right eye.
Fury was no longer moving with the same ease and after taking a right hook he was in serious trouble, Usyk unloading freely but somehow his opponent stayed on his feet.
Only the ropes saved the 35-year-old and he was given a standing 10 count count and was then rescued by the bell at the end of the ninth.
Usyk was too passive in the 10th as Fury had recovered from the assault that left him lurching around the ring, but another left hand gave him the edge in the 11th.
Fury needed something special in the final round but with his smaller adversary refusing to cease his pursuit, it did not come and for the first time he was defeated.
Fury's victory over Swedish southpaw Wallin saw him tip the scales at 254.4-pounds - it was his lightest since beating Klitschko at 247-pounds although his weight against the latter is something he disputes.
In the height of his battle with mental health, Fury ballooned up to 385-pounds in November 2017.
His fighting weight was 273-pounds against Wilder, which Fury describes as his most effective weight for premium performance.
Fury is handled by Hall of Famer Frank Warren in the UK and legendary promoter Arum across the Atlantic. His deal with Arum and ESPN has two fights remaining after signing a deal with Top Rank in 2018.
Fury has previously been promoted by Mick Hennessey, who signed the heavyweight when he turned professional. While his broadcasting home in the UK is BT Sport, Fury has fought on Sky Sports Box Office, ITV and Channel 5 in the past.
Fury was said to have earned between $4million and $7million for his world title triumph against Klitschko. However, his recent deal with ESPN and Top Rank was said to be worth $100million.
According to Forbes, Fury was the highest earning boxer in the world in 2020 having profited $55million in the previous 12 months. It placed him No.11 on the World's Highest-Paid Athletes in 2020, above Saul 'Canelo' Alvarez and Joshua.
His earnings included his appearance in WWE's Crown Jewel and "Unmasked" - the autobiography by Fury himself.
Fury's loud and eccentric father 'Gypsy' John Fury was an active heavyweight fighter in the 1980s, though failed to win any domestic or world honours.
Fury Sr. cannot travel to America when his son fights after being denied a visa following an 11-year sentence for gouging another man's eye out during a fight at a car auction.
While John was in prison Tyson was trained by his Uncle Peter Fury, who was in his corner for the Klitschko win. His father is credited as being a huge influence on helping Fury beat depression and becoming world champion once again.
He is married to Paris Fury and the couple have six children in their three sons named Prince Tyson Fury II, Prince yAdonis Amaziah, and Prince John James; and three daughters named Venezuela, Valencia Amber and Athena Fury.
They all featured in ITV's documentary series named 'Meet the Fury's' which followed Fury and his family's journey ahead of his rematch with Wilder. Tyson is the older brother of Tommy Fury, who entered the Love Island villa back in June 2019.
Tommy is also a pro boxer and his girlfriend Molly-Mae Hague, who he met on the show.
Frank Warren says Tyson Fury’s rematch with Oleksandr Usyk “will be announced in due course” following Saturday’s thrilling fight in Saudi Arabia.
Oleksandr Usyk stands at the summit of the boxing world after dispatching Tyson Fury in Riyadh in the early hours of Sunday morning to be crowned undisputed world heavyweight champion.
Tyson Fury’s quest to become undisputed world heavyweight champion ended in defeat by split decision to Oleksandr Usyk in an enthralling night in Riyadh.
Oleksandr Usyk will be giving away almost three stones to Tyson Fury after it emerged that the wrong weight was read out at last night’s weigh in.
Tyson Fury refused to engage in the face off with Oleksandr Usyk in a muted final press conference ahead of Saturday’s undisputed world heavyweight showdown in Riyadh.
Following injury delays and negotiations breakdowns, Tyson Fury vs Oleksandr Usyk finally happens this weekend as boxing crowns an undisputed world heavyweight champion for the first time since 1999.
Tyson Fury has promised to break new ground with his ring walk ahead of his title fight with Oleksandr Usyk in Riyadh on Saturday.
