Tyson Fury has claimed that he refused to drink anything in his dressing room after ripping the world heavyweight title from Wladimir Klitschko because he had “good information” that the Ukrainian’s camp would try to drug him.
Fury, who took Klitschko’s WBA, IBF and WBO belts on a unanimous points decision in Düsseldorf on Saturday night, also admitted he would not win the BBC’s Sports Personality of the Year because he was too opinionated – before vowing that he would never change.
Speaking at the Macron Stadium in Bolton after returning home on the overnight ferry to Hull, Fury revealed he was dehydrated after defeating Klitschko over 12 rounds but feared the consequences of drinking any fluids.
“After the fight, I had it from good sources not to touch anything in the changing room because they might try to drug me,” he added. “People were trying to pass me all sorts of things but unless it came from my own baggage, I wasn’t having it, there was no chance of me getting drugged. I went home dehydrated because I was so frightened of being tested and failing the test because they’ve given me something. You can never be too careful.”
Fury linked his fears of possible wrongdoing to a wider pattern of behaviour by Klitschko’s camp, including sending him an ill-fitting pair of gloves from the Ukrainian’s preferred manufacturer Paffen, wearing platforms in his boots at the weigh-in, deliberately altering the weighing scales, and making the ring canvas too soft. “We know the cheats, these people are extremely good at cheating,” Fury said. “They tried it with the gloves first and still gave me the wrong gloves in the end. Then they put six-inch thick memory foam all over the ring. Then he had his bandages on and his wraps on before we came into the changing room and he had to take them off.
“They said I was 17 st 8lb when I was 18 st 4lb. At the weigh-in, he had platforms in his boots. All these little things that they thought might affect fighters in the past but it didn’t phase me one bit.”
Klitschko’s camp were unable to be reached for comment.
During a fractious press conference, Fury’s father John challenged the assembled media to bow to his son while Fury insisted he would not shy away from expressing his controversial views – including likening homosexuality and abortion to paedophilia – even though he was now world champion.
Shadow cabinet minister Chris Bryant claimed he would not celebrate the British boxer’s win because, he said, Fury’s “aggressive style” could lead to “young gay suicides”. But when Fury was asked whether he would take more time thinking before opining on certain subjects, his response was direct and emphatic.
“Listen, if people don’t like it change the channel,” he said. “That’s all I got to say. I will be dictated to by nobody. I’m the man. And if anyone can prove me wrong their chance is inside a boxing ring. You don’t like it, change the station. You don’t like it, don’t take photos. You don’t like it, don’t print it in your newspaper. Do I care? Not really.”
His verdict on his chances of being named Sports Personality of the Year after being shortlisted yesterday was just as forthright. “I can tell you know that will never happen – so there is no point in me thinking about it,” he said. “They won’t let me win it. I am too controversial and outspoken, not good. If I win it I win it and if I don’t I don’t. I am not bothered. Hamilton can win a race but it doesn’t mean anything. Murray can win a tennis match and lose a tennis match and still have his popularity. But who, out of all these people, beat Wladimir Klitschko who they said could not be beaten? The answer is Tyson ‘Too Fast’ Fury.”
Fury now plans to spend time with his wife and young family over Christmas and new year and says he won’t think about his next opponent for several weeks. However, on Monday Anthony Joshua, who fights for the British title next week, joined WBC champion Deontay Wilder and David Haye in expressing his interest in fighting Fury. “If the opportunity presents itself, and it’s the right opportunity, we would definitely take the fight, At some stage down the line it will happen, whether it is next year or the year after.” said Johsua. Wilder, has also expressed his desire to fight Fury and unify the heavyweight division. “I’ve got to fight someone in January and after that fight I would love to have a unification bout - and guess what, I wouldn’t mind coming to the UK for that one. No matter where it might be, I want to be the undisputed champion of the world,” he told BBC Radio 5 live.
