Whether or not you consider him a former champion or the reigning lineal champion, there’s no denying that Tyson Fury is one of the top three active fighters in the heavyweight class. Fury is deep into training ahead of his December 1st showdown vs. WBC champion Deontay Wilder. The outspoken Fury will face Wilder on SHOWTIME pay per view and inside of the Staples Center in Los Angeles.
On Thursday afternoon, Fury hosted a media day in Los Angeles and made sure to keep everyone entertained, as he always does. At 30 years old, Fury is still in his prime and he is also undoubtedly one of the most witty, clever, and entertaining of the current heavyweights.
Speaking from the Churchill Boxing Club in Santa Monica, Fury spoke about the importance of this fight and what it means to his career.
“This is an important fight for boxing, because it’s two undefeated champions facing off,” said Fury. “There have been people not getting in the ring with top guys for whatever reason, but here you have two fighters stepping up and onto the line.”
Wilder (40-0, 39 KO’s) is a ferocious puncher and Fury doesn’t have much trouble assessing this matchup.
“It’s a pretty easy fight to analyze,” said Fury. “Deontay Wilder needs to connect with that big right hand and knock me out, and I need to not let him do that. I need to do whatever I can to get out the way of that right hand, and make him worry about defending my punches.”
It was nearly three years ago when Fury pulled off a huge upset in defeating then-champion Wladimir Klitschko via unanimous decision in a fight that changed the landscape of the heavyweight division. With that win, Fury annointed himself as the lineal champion and he’s ready to get back to that status.
“I already became a unified champion,” he said. “I’ve crossed the bridge into the very upper echelon of the sport. This time I’m back and I’m here for good. I’m back to reclaim my throne. Even though I’ve had the tune-up fights, I feel like this is my true comeback fight.”
Fury has gone away from home for this match, as he trains inside of the Summit Gym in Big Bear for the fight, the same place where Gennady Golovkin calls home during training.
“I’m used to being in hostile, solitary environments for training camp,” Fury explained. “For the Wladimir Klitschko fight I was in Holland, in a forest 10 miles away from any shop or town. I thrive in the condition in Big Bear. There have been no distractions training up in Big Bear. It’s perfect. There’s nothing but a few bears and rattle snakes. That’s it as far as distractions.”
And, with a final statement, you get a sense of the genuine side of Fury, as he is all for helping good causes despite an exterior that may be a big rough.
“I wear these funky shorts in public a lot and I wore them today because they represent a company called Oddballs, and every penny spent on these pants goes to research to fight testicular cancer,” said Fury. “A friend of mine went through it recently, and I want to spread awareness for him and this cause.”
