LONDON, ENGLAND - FEBRUARY 28: Tyson Fury (green shorts) on his way to victory over Christian Hammer in a Heavyweight Contest by singing 'Elvis' at the O2 Arena on February 28, 2015 in London, England. (Photo by Richard Heathcote/Getty Images)
At a news conference in Manchester on Wednesday, British boxer Tyson Fury removed his T-shirt, turned to Ukrainian opponent Wladimir Klitschko and pointed to his flabby belly, taunting: “Shame on you, you let a fat man beat you.”
This was just one of the many wild moments of the expletive-laden and at-time shocking news conference at the Manchester Arena between two fighters competing to become the next world heavyweight champion on July 9.
Fury, 27, began his teasing of Klitschko by waltzing into the room backed by music and cheerleaders, and then by dancing himself. The 40-year-old Ukrainian simply sat motionless for most of the extravaganza, occasionally shaking his head at something he heard.
Klitschko’s nine-year reign as world heavyweight champion came to an end at the hands of Fury in a unanimous decision in Germany in November.
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Fury has become known for being very outspoken and even controversial in his views on certain issues. He has previously criticized abortion, openly disagrees with homosexuality, and has made sexist comments like “a woman’s best place is in the kitchen and on her back.” He also said doping should be officially allowed in all sports to make it “fully fair.”
“I’m not OK with what comes out of Fury’s mouth, his statements,” Klitschko said Wednesday. “For example, that all homosexual men and women and paedophiles belong in the same place, in jail basically. So that is basically where he sees Elton John and the Queen.”
Klitschko also added that he wants to win the rematch “not just for myself but for the people … and the better reputation of the heavyweight champion.”
Fury, however, does not seem ready or willing to change. Despite holding one of the most prestigious titles in boxing and in all sports, he continues to offend many people with his insensitive remarks.
Fury has won all 25 of his professional fights, 18 by knockout.
“You got beaten fair and square the first time in Germany on your own turf in front of all your own people – you got whooped,” Fury said. “You’ll need to be about 1,000 times better because you landed about four shots in 12 rounds.”
Klitschko said that although he felt he was in perfect physical shape for his last fight against Fury, he was “mentally absent.”
Klitschko attended the Champions League match between Manchester City and Real Madrid on Tuesday, and said 80 percent of the people that came up to him wanted him to beat Fury.
“I met so many people saying, ‘Dude, knock him out please. I can’t stand him,'” he said. “This is revenge for me, not a rematch.”
LONDON, ENGLAND – FEBRUARY 28: Tyson Fury (green shorts) on his way to victory over Christian Hammer in a Heavyweight Contest by singing ‘Elvis’ at the O2 Arena on February 28, 2015 in London, England. (Photo by Richard Heathcote/Getty Images)
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