Boxing
Did Tyson Fury really change his name?
The Gipsy King and Oleksandr Usyk will meet in the ring once again, in a rematch of one of the most anticipated heavyweight clashes in recent years.
Tyson Fury is no stranger to grabbing headlines. Whether it’s his impressive boxing record or his larger-than-life personality, Fury knows how to keep fans talking. The looming rematch with Oleksandr Usyk on December 21 has included all the expected theatrics to build anticipation for the fight. The clash, set to take place in Riyadh’s Kingdom Arena, promises to be a heavyweight showdown for the ages, with Fury aiming to reclaim the WBA, WBC, and WBO titles from Usyk.
Fury’s official record stands at 34-1-1. His lone loss, a split decision in part one of the dual against the Ukrainian, hasn’t deterred him. But the question of his name taps into something beyond boxing - something personal.
Tyson Fury: the story behind his name
Fury’s full name is Luke Tyson Fury, and he was born June 1, 1988. He was born in Wythenshawe (south of Manchester) to an Irish family with a long history in boxing and bare-knuckle boxing.
There has been some controversy surrounding the ‘Tyson’ element of his name, with his father, John, stating: “I thought there’s only one name fitting for him, he’s fought hard to become a person living in this world. Mike Tyson was the best in the world at that time. Tyson Luke Fury – that’s his name.”
However, relatively recent revelations from fellow British boxer Dillian Whyte claim that Fury added the ‘Tyson’ element to make him sound ‘harder’ and that being called Tyson had ‘higher commercial value.’
Responding to these claims, the English fighter has confirmed that Luke is indeed his middle name.
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