Tyson Fury: The Short Story

By Adam Fillingham: Luke Tyson Fury was born on the 1st of June 1988, in Wythenshawe, Manchester, weighing one pound. After he was born a string of tragic events happened and Fury nearly died 3 times. His father then named him after former heavyweight champion Mike Tyson.

Tyson’s father was a bare knuckle fighter in his prime although he did get into the pro ranks. John ‘gypsy’ Fury finished his boxing career with a record of 8 wins, 4 losses (2kos) and 1 draw. John Fury’s highlight fight was against former british and world heavyweight champion Henry Akinwande.

As an amateur Tyson Fury represented both Ireland and England and in 2006 won a bronze medal at the World Junior Championships.

At the World Championships 2006 in Agadir he lost to Uzbek Sardor Abdullayev 31:36. In England he participated in the senior national championships 2006 but was beaten by now fellow pro David Price.

In May 2007 he won the so called EU junior championship and lost to Maxim Babanin in the final of the European Junior Championships. He was ranked #3 in the world (juniors) behind the Russians Maxim Babanin and Andrey Volkov, but lost out to Price in going to the Olympics in Beijing. In absence of Price who won Olympic Bronze at Beijing he became national champion(ABA) in 2008. Tyson’s record as an ameture stood at:
26 wins(26 kos) 4 losses (0 kos) 0 draws.

Lets just have a look back at his professional career thus far;

Vs. Bela Gyongyosi

Tyson’s debut fight came on the undercard of Carl Froch’s world title bid againsed Jean Pascal, when Fury took on Hungarian Bela Gyongyosi (3(1) 9(4) 2). Tyson weighed in at 18 stone and 9 pounds looking more than a little flabby. Although looking flabby his hand speed was immence and not only that he could switch from head to body in a blink. The body shots accumilated through the first round and with 55 seconds left in the round Gyongyosi fell to the canvas.

Vs. Marcel Zeller

Marcel Zeller was a fighter with a great record but not a great fighter. You could tell from the word go that although he had a great personality he was only there for the big payday. Tyson weighed in at 18 stone 1 pound (7 pounds less than his debut) and looked physically a lot better but not what it could be, by any means. In the first round Fury put his jab to good use for the first minute before ripping zeller to pieces with hooks to the body and powerful uppercuts to the head. Many boxers would have gone down from less than that but Zeller stayed on his feet. The second round was much the same with hooks to the body and a quick stinging jab. He also showed his agility for a big man. At the beginning of the third two low blows by Fury occured (not right on the button though!) and Zeller took his time and rightly so. In the third round Tyson was content to sit behind his jab. Suddenly he got caught flush but Fury took it well. With little time left in the round Fury cornered him and the referee stopped the fight.

Vs Daniel Peret

Nobody really expected Daniel Peret (15(6)-20-0) to beat Tyson Fury on the 28th of February on the under card of Jono Thaxton vs Anthony Mazaache. Tyson weighed in at 17 stone 10 pounds looking a lot slimmer which you couldn’t say for Peret. In the first round Tyson used his reach advantage to great use and used stiff left, right combinations on the outside with the occasional body blow. Petet couldn’t answer. In the second Tyson went in a bit closer and got caught flush twice but took it well. A cut opened on the top of Peret’s left eye and the fight was stopped leaving a disgruntled Peret shouting “Are you crazy!?”

Vs Lee Swaby

Lee Swaby was a fighter that had knocked out Enzo Macrenelli but had gone no further in his career. He was supposed to give Tyson some good opposition which he did but never looked like he was going to win. Tyson won the first two rounds pretty comfortably boxing well, but Swaby’s right hand lead gave Tyson some problems. In the third Tyson dominated up close and personal and on the outside. In the forth Tyson more than dominated and tore the ex-cruiserweight up. At the end of the round Swaby’s corner pulled him out.

Vs Matthew Ellis

One of the quickest ending fights I have ever witnessed occured on the 11th of April when Tyson Fury took on Blackpool’s Matthew Ellis. After only 19 seconds and some of the fastest punches I’ve seen on a heavyweight, Ellis went down from a hard left hand to the head and down again 20 seconds later with another good hit to the head. Ellis got up well but looked groggy and the ref stopped it.

So far Tyson has had great success against a select few journeymen but what will he be like when he steps up in opposition? We will wait and see in the near future.

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