Tyson Fury “The Gypsy King” is the people’s champion and the current WBC and Ring heavyweight champion. Behind the mask by Tyson Fury is his story of battling depression.
You don’t have to be a boxing fan to enjoy this book. Tyson Fury Fell into depression after becoming heavyweight champion of the world by beating Wladimir Klitschko in 2015.
Depression is a silent killer and many people are suffering silently without speaking about it because it has a stigma attached to it. If it can bring the heavyweight champion down to his knees, then it can bring anybody down.
Behind the Mask by Tyson Fury has helped countless people across the world. Tyson is so open and real in his autobiography and you can relate to his fair share of struggles on his journey.
Tyson Fury The early years
Tyson Fury comes from a fighting gypsy family. His bloodline goes well back to 200 years, with both sides of his family being bare-knuckle fighters.
Tyson Fury’s mother Amber has suffered a lot of trauma in her life. In total she had 16 pregnancies, of which only 4 survived.
Tyson was born 3 months premature and weighed only 1 pound. The doctor didn’t expect him to survive.
His father told the doctor not only is he going to survive but he will grow to be nearly 7 feet tall, weigh 20 stone and be the new heavyweight champion of the world, and will be named after the current heavyweight champion Mike Tyson.
Tyson Fury started boxing at age 10. His father worked as a car salesman at the time and boxed as a heavyweight in the 80s and 90s. He couldn’t make it as a fighter and didn’t want to see his kids boxing.
His father didn’t take too kindly to Tyson’s interest in boxing initially, but soon gave in after seeing his potential after sparring with him. Tyson got the better of him and cracked his rib and he had to oblige to his demands.
Tyson began boxing at Jimmy Egan’s boxing academy. He was 6 foot 6 inches tall and weighed 15 stone at 15 years old. He was so sure of his future he wrote a letter to his father that he was going to be the heavyweight champion of the world.
Tyson has 3 brothers John, Shane, and Hughie and they were a closely knit circle right from day one, with Shane being very close to Tyson as they were only a year apart.
Tyson Fury vs Wladimir Klitschko
Behind the mask by Tyson Fury covers every fight he’s had since his amateur days, but I’m only going to cover the fights that’s had the greatest impact in his career.
Famed boxing trainer Emmanuel Steward predicted that the one going to take the title away from Dr. Steelhammer was going to be Tyson Fury. Wladimir Klitschko didn’t like that statement one bit.
Tyson Fury got the better of Wladimir in the Press conference and also supposedly had a psychological edge when he outlasted Wlad in the Sauna.
The two would meet in Dusseldorf, Germany and the title would change hands ‘From the United Kingdom, the new Unified Champion of the world, Tyson Fury!
It was a boxing clinic from start to finish. Tyson Fury was the superior boxer on the night and boxed and counter punched beautifully.
Wladimir’s jab and grab style wouldn’t prove to be useful on the night. Tyson Fury had studied the Ukrainian to the T and would get the job done in fine style.
Tyson Fury would slip into a massive depression after winning the heavyweight titles which was his childhood dream. When everything you ever wanted is given to you then what’s next was the question that Tyson faced.
This quote by Jim Carrey comes to my mind when I come across such stories “I think everybody should get rich and famous and do everything they ever dreamed of so they can see that it’s not the answer.”
Tyson Fury would take a 3-year hiatus from boxing because of his manic bouts with depression. He would go on to down beers and consume drugs frequently.
His life was falling apart, and his boxing career seemed over. One day, he got on his Ferrari convertible and drove 90 miles an hour and wanted to crash and kill himself.
He heard a voice in his head that said No Tyson! think about your family and kids. This was a huge wake-up call for him. He knew he had to get his act together.
Another occasion, which was a divine intervention for him was when he went to a Halloween party dressed as a skeleton and surrounded by kids around him. He told himself this is what my life has come up to.
He went home and got on his knees and cried to god, similar to what George Foreman did after he fought Jimmy Young. He told his wife Paris that day that he was going to be the heavyweight champion of the world again.
Tyson Fury Vs Deontay Wilder 1
Tyson Fury was on a mission mounting the greatest comeback in boxing history, with Ben Davison as his new trainer. Wilder Vs Fury was scheduled for the WBC heavyweight title on 1st December 2018.
Just a couple of years ago Tyson Fury ha hit rock bottom and had ballooned up to 28 stone and was heart attack material. Now he was back to becoming Heavyweight champion of the world.
Looking back now, Tyson took the fight way too early and wasn’t in peak physical shape to take on Wilder. The opportunity presented itself and he just took it.
The fight was held in Staples Center to a capacity crowd. Tyson Fury boxed the head off of Deontay Wilder for 12 rounds, barring the 2 knockdowns he suffered in rounds 9 and 12. He won every other round.
He showed his superior boxing ability and ring intelligence. He had a very annoying style and Wilder could never really catch him throughout the entirety of the bout except for those knockdowns.
It should have been a clear Unanimous Decision Victory for Fury but he was blatantly robbed and it was a split decision draw. Even a blind man could have seen that Fury had clearly won.
Fury handled the loss with class and there was a sense of calmness after such a robbery in boxing. I fell into a depression after listening to the verdict if I’m honest.
When Tyson Fury was knocked down in the 12th he looked like he had been shot and there was no way he was going to get back after that detonating right hand and free left hook from Wilder.
After 5 seconds Tyson Fury miraculously rose up to his feet and puts a beating on Wilder, it was unbelievable he backed wilder and he had no answer to his punches and the bell rings and the fight is declared a draw!
If there was any time to slip back into depression it was now for Tyson and he didn’t. He accepted the judges decision and vowed to get his revenge in the rematch.
Tyson Fury Vs Deontay Wilder 2
The rematch between Deontay Wilder and Tyson Fury was scheduled for 22nd February at the MGM Grand, Las Vegas.
Tyson Fury learned something from the first fight that was invaluable. He learned that Wilder could not fight on the back foot.
Tyson Fury was not going to leave it to the judges hands this time around and claimed a second-round knockout before the fight.
He would team up with SugarHill Manny Stewards Nephew for the rematch and would work on his punching power.
The Rematch was everything Tyson had predicted he would bully and batter Wilder from start to finish. Wilder was no match for fury this time. He was too big, too strong, and too powerful.
Fury would batter wilder for 7 rounds, dropping him on multiple occasions and the fight was stopped by Wilder’s corner in the 7th round.
Tyson Fury is now the WBC and Ring Heavyweight champion and a frontrunner when it comes to mental health.
Tyson Fury Vs Deontay Wilder 3
There are not many books that I read twice, but behind the mask by Tyson Fury was a must repeat read for me.
Tyson Fury will be defending his belt against Deontay Wilder on October 9th at the T Mobile Arena in Las Vegas. I think Fury has Deontay’s number and will be another win for the Gypsy King.
I’m a huge Tyson Fury and I catch all of his fights. I’ve been following him since he beat Wlad for the title.
I listened to the audiobook after he beat wilder the first time and now I got myself the paperback just 1 week before the highly anticipated rematch.
It’s sad to see wilder make such childish excuses after his second loss saying the weight of the costume shot his legs and his water was spiked. If there was any time to beat Tyson Fury it was during their first meeting and now his chances are slim to none.
Boxing is a funny game and anything can happen, but I think the only man that can beat Tyson Fury now is himself.
Tyson Fury Vs Depression
Tyson Fury has partnered with The Frank Bruno Foundation to spread awareness about mental health.
Mental Health is a real thing and it’s extremely sad to see people take their own lives because they don’t know how to cope with the illness.
We need to have a sympathetic ear to one’s suffering from mental health issues. It’s not a weakness and it’s a serious disease. It’s mental and it happens in the mind. Seek help if you think you have it and don’t bottle it in.
Tyson Fury battled depression through exercise and training. It worked for him because he had a routine and structure that enabled him to get through the dark pit of depression. Please seek medical help if you are feeling well.
“No matter how many times you can be put down in life, no matter how you have been hurt or how badly you have been treated, you must continue to fight back and you can overcome the worst that life can throw at you.”
Tyson Fury
If the Gypsy King can, anyone can. There is only one Tyson Fury!
