Wladimir Klitschko got the first taste of the kind of punishment Tyson Fury is liable to dish out when the Briton grabbed the microphone at their public workout and serenaded the Ukrainian with a version of Wind Beneath My Wings.
Klitschko and a bemused audience watched on as Fury stalked the ring in full song, most of those present presumably wishing for it to stop.
The two meet at the weekend in their world heavyweight title bout in Düsseldorf and Fury may consider himself already ahead on points after crooning: “You are the one with all the glory, I’m the one with all the strength,” to the holder of the IBF, IBO, WBA and WBO belts.
For good measure he added: “You are the wind beneath my wings. For I am the one with the new gold ring. And I’ll be the one with all the belts.”
He ended mercifully quickly by saying: “OK people, thank you very much and goodnight,” in his best Phoenix Nights accent. Whether he lasts much longer in the ring on Saturday night is a matter of conjecture.
The original song was written in 1982 and recorded by Willie Nelson, Patti LaBelle and Shirley Bassey, among others, though it is most associated with Bette Midler for the soundtrack to the film Beaches.
The offical lyrics run:
Oh, oh, oh, oh, oh.
It must have been cold there in my shadow,
to never have sunlight on your face.
You were content to let me shine, that’s your way.
You always walked a step behind.
So I was the one with all the glory,
while you were the one with all the strength.
A beautiful face without a name for so long.
A beautiful smile to hide the pain.
Did you ever know that you’re my hero,
and everything I would like to be?
I can fly higher than an eagle,
‘cause you are the wind beneath my wings.
It might have appeared to go unnoticed,
but I’ve got it all here in my heart.
I want you to know I know the truth, of course I know it.
I would be nothing without you.
