Former undisputed world heavyweight champion Mike Tyson has told Tyson Fury he "wasn't meant to be normal", and urged him to keep using his personal demons from the past for inspiration.
Fury has been honest in discussing his battle against depression and drug abuse, and also opened up about how he almost committed suicide at his lowest point.
The Gypsy King's victory against Deontay Wilder earlier this year has been described as one of the greatest sporting comebacks of all time, and Tyson, who is reportedly considering returning to the ring himself, told Fury to keep embracing his difficult background.
Speaking to Ring Magazine, the 53-year-old said: "With Tyson, if he didn’t go through everything he’s been through, he wouldn’t be the person that he is today.
"The mental health issues? That’s why he’s the greatest, because he’s sick, and that’s being real.
"People want him to be normal. Yeah, be normal and go on the f***ing welfare line.
"Tyson doesn’t know what normal is. Tell him to stay the f*** away from normal; he wasn’t meant to be normal."
Tyson has recently been filmed in superb shape as he continues to hint at a return, and there are even rumours he could take on his namesake Fury in an exhibition match.
Fury's promoter Bob Arum recently said: "I would entertain the idea of Tyson Fury fighting an exhibition against [Mike] Tyson if the money was going to a legitimate charity.
"I wouldn’t finance it. I would put sweat equity into it. I think it would be good for Tyson [Fury]."
Boxing fans are desperate to see Fury take on fellow British heavyweight Anthony Joshua, and speculation is continuing to grow that the two could take each other on at the start of next year, although much may depend on whether Kubrat Pulev steps aside from his mandatory bout with AJ.
