By Damian Poole: The Current 31-year-old WBC world champion, Tyson “the Gypsy King” Fury (30-0-1-21 K.O.s) has the opportunity to become the unified world champion of the world against the current 30-year-old, British IBF, WBO, IBO, and WBA world champion Anthony “Two Time” Joshua (23-1-21 K.O.s).
Many boxing fans see this bout between the two British champions as a closely matched fight compared to the recent one-sided beat down between Tyson and the Alabama ex WBC champion Deontay ‘The Bronze Bomber” Wilder (42-1-1-41 K.O.s) with the American showing lack of fundamental skills. Such as fighting on the back foot, defense, and the ability to adapt, which led to the Bomber being knocked down two times and ended with a 7th round TKO. Against an opponent who was just a better-skilled boxer than the Bronze Bomber.
A trilogy fight is scheduled to be announced soon before Tyson Vs. Anthony can happen, but it’s a foregone conclusion with the vast sway of the boxing fans on both sides of the fence in agreement that Tyson will again be the victor, with the possible retirement of Deontay Wilder soon to follow. According to a PBC podcast, Deontay had this to say on a possible second defeat to Tyson “This is the last final straw as I see it. I’m taking everything in that happened, everything that happened towards me. Who said lightning doesn’t strike twice?
When the inevitable fight is made between A.J. and Tyson, A lot of the boxing fans give the edge to Tyson with his slick moves and awkward style of boxing, against Anthony’s more formal style stance. And these opinions aren’t unjustified, Anthony lost to late replacement Andy Ruiz Jr back in June 2019 but won the rematch against the Mexican in December 2019 in a clinical style. Even though Anthony Joshua looked to be lighter on his feet, the Brit still seemed timid and shy to engage with a hard-hitting Andy Ruiz.
If these opinions come to fruition and Tyson “The Gypsy King” Fury becomes unified WBC, IBF, WBO, IBO, and WBA World champion. Then indeed, it will be bad for the sport of boxing.
Boxing needs someone who can represent the sport in a good light, a superstar brand name that anyone in or out of boxing can look up to and believe, with hard work, dedication, and commitment can lead to a prosperous future—inspiring the next generation of heroes without the fear of discrimination, racial injustice, and Prejudice. Just like Usain Bolt did for the Olympics, The William’s sisters for women’s tennis and Lewis Hamilton for formula One, to name only a few sporting ambassadors of their respected sport.
Sadly, Tyson Fury does not fit this bill. It may come as a shock to many that Tyson has said some sexiest, anti-Semitic, homophobic comments in the past. Back in November 2015, Tyson was interviewed by the daily mail. The Gypsy King had this to say about gay relationships.
“There are only three things that need to be accomplished before the devil comes home: one of them is homosexuality being legal in countries. This comment led to an investigation with the British boxing board of control.
Going back as far as 2013, Tyson made his views clear about the woman’s place in today’s society. Stating that he would hang his sister if he deemed her to be promiscuous, and has said he believes that “a woman’s best place is in the kitchen and on her back” Not exactly P.C. views in line with today’s sporting ambassadors.
More of Tyson’s personal views scuppered his hopes of winning Sports Personality of the Year back in 2015, but a year later Fury was interviewed by the video outlet SportsView London, and he said of Jews:
“Everyone just do what you can, listen to the government follow everybody like sheep, be brainwashed by all the Zionist, Jewish people who own all the banks, all the papers all the TV stations. Be brainwashed by them all”
Tyson has also made deeply disturbing comments about being transgender. “Of transgender people, Fury said,
“It’s like you’re a freak of nature if you’re normal. You’re the odd one out — nobody else. What’s normal? I’ll just get myself changed into a woman. That’s normal, isn’t it? Today call myself Tysina or something like that, put a wig on. I don’t think it’s normal. I think they’re freaks of nature.”
Tyson did later on apologies in 2016 for his comments, releasing this statement, “I apologize to anyone who may have taken offense at any of my comments,” Fury said in a statement.
“I said some things, which may have hurt some people, which as a Christian man is not something I would ever want to do. Though it is not an excuse, sometimes the heightened media scrutiny has caused me to act out in public.
I mean no harm or disrespect to anyone and I know more is expected of me as an ambassador of British boxing and I promise in future to hold myself up to the highest possible standard. Anyone who knows me personally knows that I am in no way a racist or bigot and I hope the public accepts this apology.”
Even though Tyson did apologize, in some cases, several years later. It’s these kinds of comments that will stick with you for the rest of your life—casting a grey shadow over what could have been a marvelous career—ruining any chances of Tyson being a sporting icon for millions of views. And this is why I believe it will be a bad day in the sport of boxing if Tyson Fury becomes a unified world champion. I don’t believe Tyson Fury is fit to be called an ambassador of the sport.
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