‘I Could Commit Suicide’ – Tyson Fury “Section With The Therapist Was Helpful…I Was Suffering In Silence”

While, to this day, the Gypsy King insists he still has inner battles to fight on occasion, the manner in which he’s overcome many of his demons has been truly remarkable. Back in 2016, though, as he prepared for a rematch with Wladimir Klitschko after dethroning him the year before, Fury hit rock bottom. Eventually he pulled out of the planned second bout with Klitschko after being declared medically unfit to fight by professionals. By this point his life had spiralled out of control with drink and drugs binges as a result of his bipolar disorder and depression. Just a few months earlier, Fury gave what, looking back now, appears to almost be a cry for help.

He sat down for a bizarre Face To Face programme with Klitschko to promote the ill-fated rematch and laid his problems bare for all to see. At the time, very few took him seriously. Not long into the interview after a fairly straightforward opening, Fury took an unexpected change of direction. He turned his attention to host John Rawling and asked: “But really, does it matter who wins or loses?”

Rawling answered: “Well, I think it probably does, doesn’t it?” To which Fury said: “Well, why does it matter?” Rawling responded: “Because you’re the champion, you don’t want to lose those belts.” Fury interrupted: “But I’m still gonna get paid, aren’t I? If I lose or win?”

Rawling then asked: “You are, but does it not mean something to you to be walking around as world heavyweight champion?” An indifferent Fury answered: “Nothing. It doesn’t mean as much as this jumper means to me. Nothing. “Them belts haven’t seen daylight since I won them, that’s just the person I am…

“It all doesn’t really matter to me because I’ve already beat him, so my job’s been done. “I’ve already done the impossible, so if he knocks me out in ten seconds, I’m happy. “So what? I’ve been paid a lot of money, I’ve been heavyweight champion of the world, and I’ve been involved in some big fights. “Just because I lose one doesn’t mean I’m not gonna be involved in big fights in the future. I will be.” Addressing Klitschko, Fury went on to add: “It’s not an embarrassing thing to be beat by somebody who’s better than you on the night.

“Everybody has bad nights, don’t they? “Look at history. Leon Spinks beat Muhammad Ali, then in the rematch he got played with. “So maybe you’re gonna do that with me, but either way I don’t care. “Hopefully you do play with me, then I can retire, former heavyweight champion and beat the man no-one could beat.

“And I hope you beat me and beat everybody else, then it makes my win look even better, doesn’t it?”

Talk then turned to the fact the rematch was scheduled to be on Fury’s home soil in Manchester. “You’re going to get a hero’s welcome in Manchester,” Rawling told Fury. To which he replied: “Am I? “I think Wlad’s got more support here than I have.” Further into the interview, Fury told Klitschko: “I hope you do win because then I don’t have to fight again. “I’m only boxing until I lose, and then I’ll quit.”