Tyson Fury was sent hurtling towards the canvas for the first time in his career, by a previously unknown boxer, who packed a monstrous punch.
From the moment he burst onto the scene, ‘The Gypsy King’ was full of charisma, with the Brit trash-talking any man who dared set foot in the ring with him.
But it’s fair to say that he didn’t just talk the talk, but walk the walk, with the icon winning multiple world titles, in a career in which he simply refused to quit. Even when Deontay Wilder put Fury down, the 6ft9 giant rose like The Undertaker.
However, long before he was dropped by ‘The Bronze Bomber’ or even Steve Cunningham, the Englishman had to overcome serious adversity, when a Bosnian-Canadian power puncher sent him tumbling toward the floor.
WOW: Lennox Lewis would’ve ‘destroyed Tyson Fury’ according to boxing legend
Tyson Fury got dropped by Neven Pajkić
On November 12, 2011, at Event City, Trafford Park, Manchester, UK, Tyson Fury went head-to-head with Neven Pajkić for the Commonwealth heavyweight title.
In a turn of events that left the whole arena in shock, in the second round, the underdog detonated a thunderous shot on his opponent, that lifted him off his feet.
The surprising moment marked the first time the future world heavyweight champion had ever hit the canvas in the professional game.
But while certainly not ideal, it gave the Brit a chance to showcase his awe-inspiring powers of recovery.
He rose to his feet, bit down on his gumshield, and survived the round, before coming out intent on revenge in the following segment.
Fury dropped his opponent on two occasions, before hurting him again with an uppercut, which prompted the referee to jump in.
‘Tyson Fury was the toughest sparring I ever had’… boxing star discusses his experience with The Gypsy King
In his career, Fury cemented his status as a fantastic heavyweight, utilizing his sublime movement and boxing IQ to bamboozle his opponents.
However, it wasn’t just on fight night that he was causing problems for the best competitors on the planet, but inside the confines of the gym as well.
Now, a former world title challenger has opened up about what it’s like to spar Fury.