This time last year, British heavyweight Tyson Fury was on top of the world. Today he is pretty close to rock bottom. It was exactly 12 months ago today when heavy underdog (4-1 against) Fury travelled to Düsseldorf, Germany to challenge the world champ Wladimir Klitschko – a heavyweight great who had dominated for over a decade, last losing a fight way, way back in 2004.
Despite the huge odds against him, Fury feinted, boxed, taunted, tricked and at times punched his way to an upset decision victory. Klitschko, who may or may not have had a rare off-night (we may never know if Klitschko can perform better against Fury as now, a rematch looks unlikely) couldn’t figure out the taller, quicker man. The win ranks as one of the finest in British boxing history and Fury returned home a hero. For a while.
It wasn’t long until Fury, with his insistence on “telling it like it is,” alienated many members of the media. Soon, as a result of his spoken beliefs on the Jewish race, homosexuals and “the best place for a woman to be,” Fury was one of the most controversial figures in world sport. Fury spoke of the “witch hunt” that was out to get him and he unfortunately fell into a deep depression; even revealing the sometimes suicidal thoughts that plague him.
Unable, or unwilling, to train, Fury piled on weight; showing up at an April 2016 press conference in terrible physical shape. Team-Fury assured us Tyson would shift the weight in time for the scheduled July 9 rematch, but it didn’t happen. Neither did the re-scheduled October 29th rematch. Today, looking even heavier than he did at the Manchester presser, Fury is a man who is, temporarily at least, without a career. Fury is still out and about in public, often Tweeting various messages also, and we have no idea where he’s at mentally today.
Will Fury, 25-0(18) ever fight again? Does he want to fight again? As many fans as you can find who anticipate a roaring return some time in 2017 can be matched by an equal number who feel we have seen the last of Fury in a boxing ring. Is Fury destined to add more to his contribution to boxing, or is he destined to be remembered as a comet who soared and burnt bright for a short time…………..and then vanished?
Only time will tell. It’s certainly been an interesting and wholly unpredictable 12 months, that much is agreed.