Tyson Fury: A Man For All Seasons

SANTA MONICA, CA- Tyson Fury has only been here a few weeks and already figured out a way to beat the horrendous Southern California traffic.

On Thursday, the Brit known as the “Gypsy King” helicoptered down from Big Bear Mountain to Santa Monica to knock out three and a half hours of crushed freeways.

Can Fury (27-0, 19 KOs) knock out WBC titleholder Deontay Wilder (40-0, 39 KOs) when they meet on Dec. 1, at the Staples Center in Los Angeles? The heavyweight title match will be televised on Showtime pay-per-view.

The 6’9″ lineal heavyweight champion flew down the mountain to perform a light training session in preparation for his world title confrontation. He arrived at Churchill Boxing Club before a mass of media, whom he shared a taste of Fury with.

Everything was loosey goosey as he chatted with television, newspaper and social media reporters of all types and sizes. Wearing multi-colored shorts and singing along to Tom Jones’ “It’s Not Unusual” while shadow boxing, the undefeated heavyweight champion has that air of confidence and charisma that just can’t be taught.

Whether talking about other heavyweights or summer clothing, the prizefighter from Manchester, England has the verbal capacity and mental quickness to match his equally adroit boxing skills.

He’s a man for all seasons.

Take his ability to discuss other heavyweights like Anthony Joshua who allegedly turned down a match between the undefeated British heavyweights.

“What kind of fighting man turns down $18 million?” said Fury, while shadow boxing, about a proposed offer to IBF, WBA, and WBO titlist Joshua.

Or, while getting his hands wrapped he offers that “this is the 131^st hand wrapper I’ve had,” as he quickly jumps to another subject.

When someone asks where he purchased his colorful sports shorts he answers “does anyone think I got sexy legs?”

Many expect an extremely competitive fight between a pair of gargantuan heavyweights who both have middleweight hand speed and explosive firepower. Fury seems to relish the American attention and obligations that go with it.

This is theater.

“We’re going to do a battle royal,” he shouts with glee.

Preparation is already in its fourth week and the man who beat Wladimir Klitschko in 2015 for the WBA, WBO, IBF, IBO and lineal world title has been working out in high altitude at Big Bear Mountain. While up there, he’s met Shane Mosley and Gennady Golovkin, who train there too.

Meanwhile, Fury concentrates on preparing for his upcoming encounter with the dangerous Wilder who has knocked out 39 of 40 opponents.

“Deontay Wilder needs to connect with that big right hand and knock me out,” said Fury matter-of-factly. “I need to do whatever I can to get out of the way of that right hand and make him worry about defending my punches.”

When Fury defeated Klitschko on November 2015, it snapped a decade of dominance by the Ukrainian heavyweight and it was called the Upset of the Year, naming Fury Fighter of the Year. Then Fury allegedly ran into trouble with drugs and was out of boxing for more than two years. Eventually, he was stripped of all the titles he had snatched. He’s fought twice so far in 2018 and now feels ready.

“I’m back to reclaim my throne,” said Fury. “Even though I’ve had the tune-up fights, I feel like this is my true comeback fight.”

In five weeks the boxing world will see if this is truly the season of the Fury.

“I already became a unified champion; I’ve crossed the bridge into the very upper echelon of the sport,” said Fury. “This time I’m back and I’m here for good.”

Photo credit: Esther Lin / SHOWTIME

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