EXCLUSIVE: ‘I’m living like a monk… but I was a fat baby and I will be fat when I die!’: Tyson Fury says his love handles will help him beat ripped Francis Ngannou – and sends a message to Oleksandr Usyk

• Tyson Fury opens up about his love handles and discusses his training regime
• Fury also had a message for Oleksandr Usyk ahead of their blockbuster fight
• Brand new weekly Mail Sport boxing podcast The Hook is out TODAY, from 5pm

Tyson Fury is undeniably a boxing phenomenon, showcasing a unique blend of agility, power and strength. But, it’s the Gypsy King’s self-deprecating humour about his weight that has captured the hearts of the nation. 

His love handles have become a trademark in the boxing world, an emblem of his unique charisma. The Gypsy King has even turned his supposed flaw into a source of empowerment, celebrating the essence of his individuality.

So, given Fury’s love handles are more famous than some boxers’ knockouts, Mail Sport sat down with the Gypsy King to talk about his unique physique before discussing his relationship with Oleksandr Usyk and touching on the heavyweight world. 

Talking exclusively to Mail Sport ahead of his crossover bout with Francis Ngannou this weekend, Fury explained how he would turn down a six pack as he believes he can beat any heavyweight in history with his trademark love handles. 

Fury also launched an expletive rant at Usyk, saying ‘f*** him’ if he even thinks about stealing the show on Saturday night by getting into the ring after his fight.

Mail Sport’s Charlotte Daly sat down with Tyson Fury ahead of his fight with Francis Ngannou

The Gypsy King opened up about his love handles and discussed his training regime

Fury has always joked about being over weight and even called himself a ‘fat pig’ during his press conference with Francis Ngannou in London (pictured above) 

The Gypsy King went on to speak about how he doesn’t care about the Ukrainian’s belts despite signing a contract for an undisputed championship fight – stating all he wants to do is ‘smash the f***er’s face in’. 

When asked whether he felt adding muscle to his frame would slow down his footwork and ruin the defensive prowess that makes him so elusive in the ring, Fury told Mail Sport: ‘It could.’

He went on to discuss his physique in more detail, saying: ‘It’s good to have a good body. I would love to have a good body. But, I don’t have any hope of having a good body. 

‘I have been training for well over 20 years and I still haven’t got a good body. I’ve been in a training camp, living like a monk, for the past 12 weeks and I still don’t have a good body.

‘I didn’t have a good body when I was in my teens, so never mind clocking onto 40 years old. But, the one thing I’ve learnt is this isn’t a bodybuilding contest. 

‘Although I don’t look a man who can do long distance or run for 20 miles, I am a man who can do that. 

‘I think of myself as an old fashioned kind of guy who can go in there and have a fight, it doesn’t really matter what I look like. It’s about getting the victory. 

‘If I had a 10 pack and I looked like Adonis – completely unbelievable and I wasn’t winning, it’s pointless. So I don’t really care about being fat. 

Fury lifted the lid to Mail Sport in an exclusive interview in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia

Fury has agreed terms to face Oleksandr Usyk in an undisputed title fight later this year

‘I actually embrace being fat because my love handles separate me from the rest of the world, ever in history. There’s never been anyone like me and there never will be.

‘That’s what makes me so tough and that’s what makes me, me. If you said to me, “Right Tyson, we will give you the opportunity to get rid of the fat on you and we will give you a full six pack,” I wouldn’t take it because that’s not me. 

‘I am fat now, I was fat as a baby and I will be fat on my death bed. We’re all fat. Hughie is fat, Shane’s fat, my dad’s fat and even my mum’s fat. I hope she’s not watching this. But, we’re a fat family.

‘He trains every day, my brother Hughie, like unbelievable. He’ll run, train, box. I am the same. Two-three times a day, in or out of camp but I’ve always been fat. Even when I got down to 17stone, like this, I still had love handles. It’s my trademark for sure.’

While Fury may joke about being ‘fat’ his moves in the ring prove he’s anything but. As a two-time heavyweight champion, Fury’s name has etched itself into boxing history, making him one of the sport’s greats.

His inimitable boxing style combines agility, power, and a towering 6ft 9in frame. Fury’s known for being elusive in the ring and his powerful punches deliver spectacular knockouts.

However, Fury has said Usyk better not think about stealing the show this Saturday night

So, it comes as no surprise that the Gypsy King – who has fought 34 times with 33 wins, no losses, and one draw – believes he could beat any heavyweight boxer from any era. 

When asked to name his top five heavyweights of all-time, Fury said: ‘Tyson Fury, one to five. I would beat every heavyweight that’s every lived in any era. Even in Queensberry and old London Prize Rules. I’d smash all of them. Every single one of them. Easily.’

He went on to joke that the only way the Gypsy King could be beaten was ‘with a big stick while he’s f***ing asleep. That’s the only way you beat him. Other than that, you can’t beat him. He’s unbeatable.’

Fury will be looking to extend his professional record on Saturday night when he opens Riyadh Season by facing former UFC heavyweight champion, Ngannou, in a highly-anticipated crossover bout. 

Usyk has revealed he will be ringside for the bout after agreeing terms with Fury for an undisputed heavyweight championship fight, scheduled to take place in Saudi Arabia later this year. 

He told Mail Sport: ‘I say this, f*** Usyk. It’s not about him. This is the Tyson Fury show. It’s about me and Francis Ngannou. 

‘The African King is meeting the Gypsy King and you know, we are throwing it down. So, anything that happens after that, happens after that and anything before that, is not important. 

Fury says he has no interest in Usyk’s belts, just like he had no interest in Wladimir Klitschko’s

‘All this stuff about undisputed and all that s***, it’s never been of interest to me. It’s like what I said to [Wladimir] Klitschko. When I wasn’t a champion, he said I know you want my belts. I said I don’t give a f*** about your belts, I want to smash your face in. 

‘That’s what means something to me. Not the belts. Winning all the belts doesn’t mean anything to me. 

‘I don’t know if the people of the world know this, but I’ve had every belt that’s ever been created apart from one, which is the central area heavyweight championship – and I’ve got my eye on that one as well. 

‘So, all these belts, having them at one time or 10 times, not important. The important thing is beating the man up in the fight. After that, it doesn’t really matter. Anything that comes with it is a bonus. 

‘But for me, the main focus is punching his face in.’

Mail Sport’s interview with Tyson Fury was courtesy of Top Rank. This weekend’s clash between the Gypsy King and Francis Ngannou being shown live on TNT Sports Box Office in the UK & Ireland and via Top Rank on ESPN+ PPV in the US.

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