Tyson Fury opens up about his demons as the heavyweight champ prepares for return to ring

CONTENT WARNING: Tyson Fury seems unbreakable. He hasn’t lost in 34 fights and is one of the greatest sportsmen on the planet. But before his comeback, he reveals the darkest moments of his life.

Britain's Tyson Fury (L) and Cameroonian-French Francis Ngannou go head to head during their weigh-in on the eve of their bout in Riyadh on October 27, 2023. (Photo by Fayez NURELDINE / AFP)

Tyson Fury, the world’s greatest heavyweight, returns to the boxing ring on Sunday, but the toughest opponent of his career is one he couldn’t see.

Forget Deontay Wilder. Oleksandr Usyk. Anthony Joshua. Or Francis Ngannou, the former UFC heavyweight world champion who will cross-over into the boxing ring to face Fury in the ‘Gypsy King’s’ comeback fight in Saudi Arabia.

No tangible man mountain forced Fury to dig deeper than he did in his battle with severe depression. Lost and terrified, rock bottom came in 2017, amid a 31-month layoff from the sport, when Fury jumped behind the wheel of his car and considered landing a knockout blow on himself.

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Tyson Fury (left) and Francis Ngannou react in the face off during a press conference ahead of Sunday’s heavyweight clash.

“The darkest time was my suicide attempt,” Fury told News Corp ahead of his clash with Cameroon crusher Ngannou, who will emulate Conor McGregor by crossing over from MMA to face a boxing legend.

“I kept thinking over and over I just don’t want to live anymore.

“When you think like that, It doesn’t get any darker than that does it?”

How dark was that tunnel?

“I had it planned out,” Fury recalls. “I was driving on my way to a bridge at 170 miles an hour.”

Thankfully, the help of the “Good Lord” that the faithful Fury mentions regularly during this interview delivered a timely dose of what the British superstar calls “divine intervention”.

“I didn’t go through with it,” Fury says.

“It was a really dark, sh**ty time.

“I was anxious. I was depressed. I wanted to take my life.

“It was very hard what I went through. It was the hardest fight I’ve ever had, and to be honest, it’s the hardest fight I’m likely to fight ... ever.”

Tyson Fury says he is proud of his fightback from dark thoughts to win a world title.

Given that backdrop of emotional torment, Ngannou will not likely pose too many problems for Fury. The 37-year-old is not a skilled pugilist and while Fury hasn’t fought for 10 months since disposing of Derek Chisora last December, the script will be largely predictable.

Like Floyd Mayweather did with McGregor in their mega money bout in 2017, the boxer called the tune with the UFC convert.

‘Money’ finished ‘Notorious’ off in the 10th round and Ngannou could go sooner if Fury, the WBC heavyweight king unbeaten in 34 fights, decides to pull the trigger earlier.

Fury has at times been criticised for his on-again, off-again tenure in boxing. Retirement talk is constant, but the 35-year-old Fury admits fighting is a form of physical medication in his incessant battle with the “black dog”.

The fear is what happens when Father Time inches closer and tells Fury the gloves must go.

“It was very difficult for me to come back to boxing from being suicidal,” said Fury, who first sought help for depression in 2016.

Fury says the toughest opponent of his career is one he can’t see.

“To get back to being world heavyweight champion, it was a very, very big ordeal and it took a lot of guts and a lot of hard work, dedication and sacrifice to make it back.

“I have always struggled with mental health problems, right from when I was a young kid.

“I think it’s hereditary. I’m not a doctor, but I believe it’s from my family.

“I was always anxious and depressed my whole life.

“Then one day, I just had a mental breakdown. I didn’t know what was wrong with me and by the time I realised, I was already having a meltdown.

“Instead of prevention, I needed a cure and a total rebuild.”

Since his life recalibration in 2018 after a chaotic battle with drugs and booze, Fury is unbeaten in nine fights. Three have been against American monster Wilder, who almost buried Fury in their first fight in December 2018, dropping him twice. The Gypsy King escaped with a draw, sharpened himself mentally, then returned to wipe the floor with Wilder in back-to-back victories.

“It was a gift from God. Divine intervention. I truly believe that,” Fury says of climbing off the canvas in his maiden fight against Wilder.

“I was totally out of it, then I just came back to life, got back up and kicked Wilder’s ass.

“I have a mental toughness because of my ability to never give up and never surrender, no matter what.

“I never know when I’m beaten. I always give my best and it seems to be working so far.”

Fury remains hopeful of fighting in Australia. He visited Melbourne and Brisbane in May, including a tour of Suncorp Stadium during which he put on a Queensland Origin jumper and sipped on a can of XXXX.

It is understood $10 million will be enough for Fury to return Down Under as part of his mission to fight on every continent.

“I would love to fight in Australia one day,” he said.

Tyson Fury remains hopeful of fighting in Australia. Picture: Lachie Millard

“I’ve got ambitions to fight on every continent, so hopefully one day I can fight in Australia.

“Surely, the government can afford to bring the Gypsy King to Australia, the biggest sportsman on the planet for a rumble Down Under.

“Please. Of course they can afford me.”

Asked which Australian he would prefer to fight, Fury said: “Look, Demsey McKean is a genuine option. He has had more than 20 career fights, he’s six foot seven, southpaw and he’s been world ranked for a while, so he is one guy I would certainly fight. He’s got it all to challenge me.

“I actually know Sonny Bill Williams. He came over with Joe Parker to train at my gym in Morecambe one year, I’ve had the opportunity to train with Sonny Bill.

“He was a decent fighter. He actually did well in sparring, he was a good strong lad.

Fury scoffed at suggestions of retirement, saying he easily has another five fights in him.

Tyson Fury has sparred with NRL legend Sonny Bill Williams.

“There’s the Ngannou fight, the Joshua fight, the Usyk fight, the Jon Jones fight and a fight in Australia. There’s five fights,” he said.

“I think I can get to 40 fights easily. While I am young enough and in my prime, I will keep going. I am 35 years old, I haven’t taken too many heavy punches because I’m a smart boxer and don’t get hit easily.

“I don’t have a mark on me so I’m pretty fresh.

“There hasn’t been a heavyweight world title in Australia since Tommy Burns fought Jack Johnson over 100 years ago, so it would be a monstrous moment for Australia to bring me Down Under.

“The Australian government has plenty of pennies. I’m like the man out of Jerry Maguire, ‘Show me the money’ and I will come.”

Originally published as Tyson Fury opens up about his demons as the heavyweight champ prepares for return to ring