British · Manchester · Born 12 August 1988British professional heavyweight boxer known for defeating Wladimir Klitschko and trilogy fights with Deontay Wilder, current WBC heavyweight champion
Tyson Luke Fury, born August 12, 1988, in Manchester, England, to Irish Traveller parents, is one of boxing's most compelling heavyweight champions and one of sport's greatest comeback stories. Standing 6 feet 9 inches tall, Fury combines unprecedented size with the movement and technical skills of a much smaller fighter, using his exceptional boxing IQ, jab, and defensive ability to frustrate opponents. His early career culminated in November 2015 when he traveled to Düsseldorf, Germany, and dethroned the dominant Wladimir Klitschko via unanimous decision to capture the WBA, WBO, IBF, and IBO heavyweight titles in one of boxing's great upsets. However, Fury was stripped of his titles and withdrew from the sport in October 2016, descending into severe depression, substance abuse, and ballooning to over 400 pounds while publicly discussing suicidal thoughts. His remarkable comeback began in June 2018, and his championship record was restored through an epic trilogy with WBC champion Deontay Wilder: a controversial split-decision draw in December 2018 (where Fury rose from a 12th-round knockdown), a seventh-round TKO victory in February 2020 to win the WBC title, and a dramatic 11th-round knockout win in October 2021 after being knocked down twice himself. Notable victories also include dominant performances against Derek Chisora (thrice) and Dillian Whyte (April 2022, sixth-round KO). Fury's professional record stood at 34-0-1 with 24 knockouts before his split-decision loss to Oleksandr Usyk on May 18, 2024, in their undisputed heavyweight championship unification bout in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia — ending Fury's unbeaten streak but cementing his legacy as one of the greatest heavyweight boxers of the modern era. His openness about mental health struggles, combined with his charisma, self-promotion, and in-ring brilliance, has made him one of boxing's most significant cultural figures and a powerful voice for mental health awareness in sport. Fury announced his return to the ring for 1 August 2026 in Dublin, a tune-up ahead of a long-awaited all-British showdown with Anthony Joshua.
Defeating Wladimir Klitschko and trilogy with Deontay Wilder
He returned from a 2.5-year absence, a reported 400-pound weight gain and public mental health crisis to reclaim the world heavyweight title.
Did You Know?How They Played
Elusive, tall southpaw with excellent footwork and boxing IQ
Lasting Impact
Lineal heavyweight champion who revived heavyweight boxing
Career Honours
- WBC Heavyweight Champion 2x
- Ring Magazine Heavyweight Champion
- Ring Magazine Fighter of Year (2020)
British Athletes