Boxing
Tyson Fury retires: The meaning behind the boxer’s nickname ‘Gypsy King’
The 36-year-old Englishman has said goodbye to his boxing career, at least for now, so manages to hit the headlines again.
Tyson Fury has announced his retirement from boxing once again, following two losses to Oleksandr Usyk. In typical Fury fashion, his farewell was brief and enigmatic, featuring a cryptic reference to Dick Turpin, the masked highwayman. While he insists this is the end, his history of reversing retirement decisions casts doubt on whether this marks a true farewell or just another pause in his unpredictable career.
The journey of The Gypsy King
Born in Manchester in 1988, Fury entered the world a month premature, weighing just 450 grams. Doctors gave his family little hope for his survival. Named Tyson in honor of boxing legend ‘Iron’ Mike Tyson, Fury grew up immersed in a family steeped in boxing tradition.
His father was a professional boxer in the 1980s, and his cousins have achieved titles in middleweight and heavyweight divisions. This deep connection to boxing is what eventually earned Tyson Luke Fury his nickname, ‘The Gypsy King.’
The origin of the nickname
Tyson Fury’s family are Irish Travellers, often referred to as Irish Gypsies - a nomadic community known for traveling in caravans, performing at fairs, and, notably, excelling in boxing. Fury has always embraced his heritage, even giving himself the nickname “The Gypsy King” after defeating Wladimir Klitschko in 2015. “I always knew I would become ‘The Gypsy King,’ and that’s the ultimate title,” Fury declared.
Proud of his roots, Fury has made it clear that he strives to represent the Traveller community throughout his career. “I always aspired to be the best, to become the heavyweight world champion. There’s so much honor and respect that comes with my inherited title because there are gypsies in every country in the world,” he explained.
Whether or not it’s now really the end, we’ll need to keep watching.
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