EXCLUSIVE: ‘I’m living like a monk… but I was a fat baby and I will be fat when I die!’: Tyson Fury says his love handles will help him beat ripped Francis Ngannou – and sends a message to Oleksandr Usyk

Tyson Fury is undeniably a boxing phenomenon, with a unique blend of agility, strength and power. But it is the Gypsy King’s self-mockery about his weight that has won the hearts of the nation.

His love handles have become a trademark in the boxing world, an emblem of his unique charisma. The Gypsy King has even turned his perceived shortcoming into a source of empowerment, celebrating the essence of his individuality.

With Fury’s love handles being more famous than some boxers’ knockouts, Mail Sport caught up with the Gypsy King to talk about his unique physique before discussing his relationship with Oleksandr Usyk and the heavyweight world.

Speaking exclusively to Mail Sport ahead of his crossover fight with Francis Ngannou this weekend, Fury explained how he would turn down a six-pack because he believes he can beat any heavyweight in history with his trademark love handles.

Fury also launched a diatribe against Usyk, saying ‘f*** him’ if he even thinks about stealing the show on Saturday night by entering the ring after his fight.

The Gypsy King went on to say that he doesn’t care about the Ukrainian’s titles despite signing a contract for an undisputed championship fight.

Asked if he felt adding muscle to his frame would slow down his footwork and ruin the defensive prowess that makes him so elusive in the ring, Fury told Mail Sport: “It could be.”

He further elaborated on his physique, saying, “It’s good to have a good body. I would like to have a good body. But I have no hope of having a good body.

‘I’ve been training for over twenty years and I still don’t have a good body. I’ve been in a training camp for the past twelve weeks and have been living like a monk, but I still don’t have a good body.

‘I didn’t have a good body when I was a teenager, let alone living to be 40 years old. But the one thing I learned is that this is not a bodybuilding competition.

“Although I don’t look like a man who can run long distances or twenty miles, I am a man who can.

“I consider myself an old-fashioned guy who can go in there and argue, it doesn’t really matter what I look like. It’s about achieving victory.

‘If I had a 10-pack and I looked like Adonis – completely unbelievable and I didn’t win, then it’s pointless. So I don’t mind being fat.

“I embrace the fact that I’m fat because my love handles separate me from the rest of the world at some point in history. There has never been anyone like me and there never will be.

‘That makes me so tough and that makes me, me. If you said to me, “Okay Tyson, we’re going to give you the chance to get rid of the fat on you and we’re going to give you a full six-pack,” I wouldn’t take it because that’s not me.

‘I’m fat now, I was fat as a baby and I’ll be fat on my deathbed. We are all fat. Hughie is fat, Shane is fat, my dad is fat and even my mom is fat. I hope she’s not watching this. But we are a big family.

“He trains every day, my brother Hughie, unbelievable. He will run, train, box. I’m the same. Two to three times a day, inside or outside camp, but I’ve always been fat. Even when I arrived at 17stone this way, I still had love handles. It’s definitely my trademark.’

While Fury may joke about being ‘fat’, his moves in the ring prove he is anything but. As a two-time heavyweight champion, Fury’s name has been etched into boxing history, making him one of the greats of the sport.

His inimitable boxing style combines agility, strength and a towering 6-foot-1 frame. Fury is known for being elusive in the ring and his powerful punches deliver spectacular knockouts.

So it’s no surprise that the Gypsy King – who has fought 34 times with 33 wins, no losses and one draw – believes he can beat any heavyweight boxer from any era.

When asked to name his top five heavyweights of all time, Fury said: “Tyson Fury, one through five. I would beat every heavyweight that ever lived. Even in Queensberry and the old London Prize Rules. I would smash them all. Piece by piece. Easy.’

He further joked that the only way the Gypsy King could be defeated was “with a big stick while he was sleeping.” That’s the only way you can beat him. Other than that you can’t beat him. He’s unbeatable.’

Fury will look to extend his professional record on Saturday night when he opens the Riyadh season by taking on former UFC heavyweight champion Ngannou in a highly anticipated crossover bout.

Usyk has revealed he will be ringside for the fight after agreeing terms with Fury for an undisputed heavyweight championship fight in Saudi Arabia later this year.

He told Mail Sport: ‘I’m saying this, f*** Usyk. It’s not about him. This is the Tyson Fury show. It’s about me and Francis Ngannou.

“The African king meets the gypsy king and you know what, we throw it down. So everything that happens after that, everything that happens after that, and everything before that, is not important.

“All that stuff about undisputed and all that stuff, it never interested me. It’s the same as what I said to (Wladimir) Klitschko. When I wasn’t champion he said I know you want my belts. I said I don’t care about your belts, I want to smash your face in.

‘That means something to me. Not the straps. Winning all the titles means nothing to me.

“I don’t know if the people of the world know this, but I’ve had every belt ever made except one, the Central Area Heavyweight Championship – and I’ve got my eye on that one too. .

“So all these belts, whether they have them at once or ten times, are not important. The most important thing is to beat the guy up in the fight. After that it doesn’t really matter anymore. Everything that comes with it is a bonus.

“But for me it’s all about smashing his face in.”

Mail Sport’s interview with Tyson Fury was courtesy of Top Rank. This weekend’s clash between the Gypsy King and Francis Ngannou will be shown live on TNT Sports Box Office in the UK and Ireland and via Top Rank on ESPN+ PPV in the US.