Tyson Fury’s remarkable story has largely been defined by his ability to overcome tremendous adversities when the odds are stacked against him.
In truly stunning fashion, ‘The Gypsy King’ proved that he is capable of reaching extraordinary heights when he caused a monumental upset back in 2015, outpointing long-reigning heavyweight king Wladimir Klitschko.
Then, after punishing his body through alcohol and drug abuse, Tyson Fury shocked the world when he returned to the ring nearly three years later.
But still, there is a deep and powerful meaning behind his name, perfectly encapsulating the measure of his immensely resilient character.
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Tyson Fury was named after Mike Tyson following his traumatic birth
During perhaps the darkest time of his life, Fury had reached a staggering weight of around 400 lbs, struggling to contain his well-documented mental health problems.
And yet, after miraculously drilling his body back into shape, the Brit amassed two comeback victories before taking on formidable heavyweight champion Deontay Wilder.
Fury, of course, was still a far cry from his physical prime, but nonetheless produced an incredible 12-round performance that showcased his exceptional powers of recovery.
Famously, it was in the 12th round when the former heavyweight king resurrected from one of Wilder’s pulverizing right hands, leaving every fan in attendance gaping in awe.
This seems to have been a consistent theme throughout Fury’s life, though, with his determination to keep fighting, both in and out of the ring, being a source of inspiration for his many fans.
From the very beginning, in fact, Fury was forced to fight an uphill battle, with the doctors remaining unconvinced that the newly-born child would even survive.
“I was born eight weeks premature and I died three times when I was a baby and I weighed in at one pound in weight,” Fury told Fight Hub TV.
“I was born in 1988, my dad was a huge boxing fan and he was also a professional boxer, so he called me after his greatest ever fighter Mike.
“Mike Tyson’s heyday was in 1988 – very fitting that I should go on to be the heavyweight champion of the world.”
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Tyson Fury looks to become a three-time heavyweight champion against Oleksandr Usyk
Fury will enter the fourth rematch of his professional career on December 21, when he takes on Oleksandr Usyk in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.
But while the 36-year-old suffered his first defeat against the highly-skilled Ukrainian in May, he nonetheless proved that his powers of recovery are simply in a league of their own.
And so, having felt the full force of Usyk’s onslaught in the ninth round of their first encounter, Fury may need to remind boxing fans, once again, exactly why he was named after ‘Iron Mike.’