Tyson Fury has been in the boxing game a long time.
From an amateur career that stated in the mid 2000s to making his professional debut at age 20, the Gypsy King has met a lot of opponents in time.
Just at a professional level, he’s had a total of 36 fights with only one defeat.
That came against Oleksandr Usyk in his last bout.
Ukrainian Usyk beat Fury in a unanimous decision and became undisputed heavyweight champion in the process.
Attention has now turned to their rematch that is due to take place in December.
Tyson Fury has now shared who his toughest opponent in the ring has been and the answer is a surprise one.
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Despite being beaten by only one boxer in his career, Fury didn’t name Usyk as his toughest opponent.
Instead, that accolade went to the only other boxer that Fury has not beat.
Deontay Wilder and Tyson Fury controversially drew their first bout together in 2018.
After that, there were two more fights between the pair.
The second fight ended in a TKO victory for Fury, with the third ending in knockout for Fury as well.
“I’m gonna have to say Wilder,” Fury said in an interview in response to who his toughest opponent has been.
The video was part of the promotion of new boxing video game Undisputed.
“When I fought Wilder he was in his prime, he was the man to beat and he was a dynamite puncher.
“One mistake and it’s over in any round, round one or round 12. From maybe 2007, me and Wilder had a pact together.
“We met in Sheffield at one of the boxing fights on Channel 5 and we always said that we’ll talk up a good fight and we’ll have a good fight for the championship down the line.
“He was always my target, but I used to look at him and think, ‘wow’.
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“I’d see him hit people and their legs would be shaking, out cold on the floor.
“They’re terrifying knockouts. The highlight reel knockouts that he has are up there with anybody’s, if not the best.
“Going in there with him I never once thought about going to sleep or getting hit by them punches, I just thought I’ll box and do what I got to do. I always do.
“I never really think, ‘well I’ll keep my hands up for this one’.
“My hands have been down behind my back for the majority of my career and they will continue to be there.
“Unfortunately, that’s just the way I am and if I’m going to get punched in the face then so be it. I’ve had plenty in the face before.”
Deontay Wilder has garnered a reputation of being one of the hardest punching fighters in the game.
But it’s still a shock to see Tyson Fury name him as more of a difficult opponent than Oleksandr Usyk.
When the pair meet again in December, it will be interesting to see if Usyk puts on a performance that changes Fury’s mind on the matter.
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