OFFERS have flooded in for Tyson Fury, from fighting Deontay Wilder in Australia at Christmas to a free hair transplant. The WBC heavyweight champion politely declined both of those but he was never going to turn down a mouth-watering Battle of Britain mega-money two-fight deal with Anthony Joshua. Fury has agreed to a 50-50 split […]
OFFERS have flooded in for Tyson Fury, from fighting Deontay Wilder in Australia at Christmas to a free hair transplant.
The WBC heavyweight champion politely declined both of those but he was never going to turn down a mouth-watering Battle of Britain mega-money two-fight deal with Anthony Joshua.
Fury has agreed to a 50-50 split with Joshua — with the venues and broadcasters still to be agreed — and the winner taking 60-40 for the rematch.
While the Gypsy King rejected the Oz bout with Wilder — what would have been the third instalment against the Bronze Bomber — on religious grounds, the hair transplant took a little longer for him to think about.
Fury said: “I have had an offer from the leading hair transplant people in the world — on Harley Street in London — to have the full head of hair back, but I have politely declined.
“That’s the old Tyson who used to have masses of curly hair, the big black mop of stallion hair.
“But I am not 17 or 21 any more. The Gypsy King is now a bald guy and I like it.
“Me and my wife, Paris, agreed if I put the hair back on I’ll just be trying to turn back the clock and I only want to look forward.”
During the lockdown, Fury has also been broadcasting a daily fitness workout to fans — an alternative to tuning in to the nation’s new hero Joe Wicks.
And the miracle man has done it all on a smashed-up iPhone 7.
Fury, 31, said: “Joe Wicks is brilliant with his workout videos and has done a fantastic job — but he is very professional.
“I have an old iPhone 7 with a smashed screen and the kids and dogs are coming in and me and Paris are arguing on camera, it’s just real.
“I think normal people can relate to that more, it’s a live TV show, it’s all off-the-cuff stuff with me.”
Friends asked if we were fighting in Australia. It was in a couple of papers but Christmas is a very religious time for me and I have kids. I don’t need it that much.
Tyson Fury on not fighting Wilder at Christmas in Sydney
Normal people want to spend Christmas with their families, too, scoffing chocolates from the advent calendar and spending time with loved ones.
And that’s why the father-of-five did not fancy the idea of flying Down Under and facing Joshua or Wilder on December 25.
Fury, who has made Las Vegas his fighting home for his last wins, added: “I had a couple of calls from friends asking if we were fighting in Australia.
“It was in a couple of papers but Christmas is a very religious time for me and I have kids.
“Career and sport aside, family comes first and there are 364 other days a year to go and make money and I don’t need it that much.
“There is plenty of other time for boxing. I would fight as late as December 20 but not Christmas Day — it would probably end in my divorce, too.”
It is not just his bonce Fury is happy with. The 19st, 6ft 9in powerhouse is finally at peace with his love handles.
Fury, who looked weak in his 2019 points win over Otto Wallin when he went down to 18st, has stopped chasing a six-pack and will even whip his kit off down his local Morecambe Bay.
He said: “Even when I was fit and doing 12 rounds, I never had a good body. I still don’t, but I was always embarrassed to take my top off in the summer.
“Even though I fight topless in front of millions of people, I was too embarrassed about how I looked.
“But on this comeback I decided not to care, I am not chasing a six-pack any more.
“I decided to be as strong as a bull, as fit as a fiddle and as wise as an owl!
“I have been going in there bald, fat and hairy and I have knocked out Adonis after Adonis. I used to worry about things that had never happened, probably never would happen.
“But now I am not embarrassed to take my top off, I am not trying to get a six-pack, I am just a happy, fat, bald guy.”
Fury is not fussed about his waistline or the sparkling gold belts he can wrap around it.
A successful defence against American Wilder, 34, and a couple of wins over AJ, 30, will leave him with the WBC, WBA, IBF and WBO titles, as well as the Ring Magazine belt and the mythical lineal status.
But, in words only he could muster, he explains how no one will decide his path for him in or outside of the ring.
Fury, who boasts a 30-1-0 record, added: “I am about fighting the biggest fighters out there.
“All these challengers and mandatories are not sellable. Whether I have ten or one fight left, I want colossal fights.
“And there won’t be a belt or an organisation dictating to me because no one ever has told me who I will or won’t fight.
“I am a proud WBC champion but I am the lineal heavyweight champion and that trumps everything.
“I have completed boxing, from English to world champion and I have them all here to prove it but belts are just pieces of leather and jewels.
“When you have been ruling it for so long and beating everyone, like I have, you can have a belt that just says ‘dog s***’ on it — but I’m still the champion.”
*WATCH the full interview with the Gypsy King at the Queensberry Promotions YouTube channel from 7pm on Thursday night.
