Tyson Fury: The Best Thing to Happen to Boxing
At the moment, the world of boxing certainly has no shortage of superstars: Canelo Alvarez, Anthony Joshua, and Deontay Wilder are just a few of the big names that come to mind.
Yet, one name that stands out is Tyson Fury. Having overcome depression and managing to lose over 100lbs, Fury returned to boxing after a three-year absence and eventually ended up fighting world champion Deontay Wilder last December. The highly anticipated match ended in a shocking split decision draw, but it was enough to signal Fury’s return to boxing’s elite ranks.
However, the inspirational story behind his return isn’t the only reason why Fury is a household name. In fact, below are a few reasons why the self-proclaimed ‘Gypsy King’ just might be the biggest thing in boxing right now.
His Sense of Showmanship
Forbes writer Peter Kahn claims that it is Fury’s ability to engage with his audience is what really sets him apart from other boxers. Take for example, Fury’s Apollo Creed-inspired entrance going into his fight with Tom Schwarz and the show he put on after the bell had rung. Fury walked out decked in stars-and-stripes like his hero from the Rocky movies, demolished Schwarz via a second-round TKO and then proceeded to serenade his wife with a rendition of Aerosmith’s I Don’t Want to Miss A Thing.
Fury’s antics immediately went viral. ESPN’s video of him serenading his wife Paris generated thousands of responses on Twitter on the day of the fight and became one of their top performing video across their social media channels. Despite his All-American get up though, most of his fan base is still English as evidenced by 41% of tweets mentioning him that day coming from the UK. Compare this to just 25% from the US and it’s clear that Fury still has some way to get the American market on side.
Prior to the fight, bwin Boxing News noted how the ‘Gypsy King’ had a chance to make a statement when he walked out in front of a US crowd against the unbeaten German at the MGM Grand Arena – and in true Fury fashion, that’s exactly what he did. No matter what critics may say about his unorthodox style, his ability to entertain and connect with boxing fans on both sides of the pond truly sets him apart.
Tyson Fury’s Got the Skill to Back It Up
Despite all his antics, you would be mistaken for thinking Fury is all talk. After beating the odds in 2015 to dethrone long-time champion Wladimir Klitschko, Fury held every belt available with the exception of the WBC title (which Wilder would go on to hold). Pundit Bob Arum even cited him as the best heavyweight in the world right now, a mighty compliment coming from someone who’s worked alongside so many boxing legends.
“I’ve been around a long time. And this guy [Fury] is right now easily the best heavyweight in the world,” Arum stated after Fury’s dominant win over Schwarz. “I mean how do you deal with a guy who is 6’9 and moves the way he does? He’s something else and something special.”
What the Future Holds
After his bout with Schwarz, Fury promised a rematch with Deontay Wilder. This was then backed up by Arum, who said that fans could look forward to the fight happening within “the first quarter of next year”. The promoter even went as far as proclaiming how, from a financial perspective, there was no reason the rematch shouldn’t exceed the Mayweather-Pacquiao fight.
Though the humongous numbers posted by the megafight will obviously be hard to beat, perhaps there is no better candidate for doing so than another Wilder-Fury bout. After all, the tension between the two only seems to grow with each day and Fury seems to be more than willing to fan the flames.
With his willingness to give the fans a show every single time he enters the ring, more of Tyson Fury may just be what boxing needs right now.
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