Two years ago it would have taken a brave man to predict Tyson Fury would once again stand on the verge of becoming world champion.
He was the washed-up fighter who put the heavy in heavyweight as he scaled a staggering 400lb just over two years since his stunning upset of Wladimir Klitschko.
Having struggled to cope with the fame and fortune which came this way - not to mention the public's dislike of a divisive and controversial character - Fury had descended into a drink and drug-fuelled depression.
On his darkest day he took his Ferrari for a spin and almost drove it into the wall before thoughts of his fatherless family dragged him back from the abyss.
Fury's now former trainer Ben Davison recalls the moment he saw his future pupil whip out a bottle of Patron in the lift and take a swig before noon.
But soon after he received a text from the former world champion which signalled the start of an incredible transformation.
Reflecting on his weight loss last year, Fury told Joe Rogan: "I was eating a lot and drinking a lot and I just stopped that stuff.
"My weight was put on through drinking excessive lager. There are 500 calories in a pint of lager and I would go out and drink 18 of them followed by whisky and vodka, then I'd stop off on the way home and eat pizzas and kebabs.
"Before I was doing a lot of long running and long boxing work, like 12-15 rounds on the pads. When I was losing the weight I was doing shorter, explosive stuff, doing more interval training.
"My diet was the most important thing, you can train like a Trojan warrior but not eat right and take three steps forward and two and a half back."
With Davison's softly-softly approach, Fury began to shed the pounds.
"People dont really know the extent of where Tyson as at the very beginning," the rookie trainer told the Telegraph.
"He was in a bad place. It was very bad. Sometimes I used to look across and think I dont know if this job can be done. I genuinely did think that, as did many others.
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"He put his trust in me, because everyone was asking why hed hired me. I had to put my trust in him by leaving my gym at home and make a commitment to him.
"We made a commitment to each other and weve ended up here. Its been a tough and long road, but were here now. Its been a good journey."
Slowly but surely the pounds began to fall off and Fury could see the light at the end of the tunnel as he began to consider a comeback.
He announced his return for the summer of 2018 when he stopped Sefer Seferi before outpointing Francesco Pianeta but his comeback was not quite perfect as he was denied victory against Wilder when the judges scored the fight a draw.
Tonight he has the chance to settle his rivalry with the American once and for all - and complete his journey back from the brink.
Read the original:
Tyson Fury's transformation and weight loss from 400lb giant to slim heavyweight - Mirror Online
