By Declan Taylor
According to LENNOX LEWIS, Tyson Fury will fully comprehend the significance of his legacy only after he has concluded his boxing career.
Fury is set to go head-to-head with Oleksandr Usyk on Saturday night, marking the first time in over two decades that a heavyweight title fight will determine an undisputed champion, following Lewis’s triumph over Holyfield back in 1999.
Throughout the lead-up to this fight, the Gypsy King consistently emphasized his indifference towards leaving a legacy or being remembered by the boxing community once he retires and stops boxing.
Lewis, on the other hand, retired from the sport in 2003 after an outstanding 44-fight career that solidified his status as one of the greatest heavyweight boxers in history. He firmly believes that Fury’s achievements inside the ring will be crucial in helping him smoothly transition into retirement.
Lewis believes that although he currently claims not to care about legacy, he will eventually realize its significance once it has been established. Lewis assures that this realization will occur in due time.
Right now, all he can focus on is the fight. His sole intention is to keep his mind fixated on it, blocking out any thoughts of his legacy or future fights. Even though you may try to divert his attention elsewhere, he remains determined to remain in the present moment.
I am content with my actions. Despite the setbacks, I believe that experiencing losses has taught me the valuable skill of resilience. If these individuals give up after a loss, they will never understand the importance of bouncing back.
“Do they possess the mental strength to make a comeback? When I experienced my last defeat, people questioned my next move. What am I going to do now? Are you kidding me? Muhammad Ali faced three losses and still managed to bounce back. That’s what inspired me to do the same. Fury frequently emphasizes how boxing, along with a disciplined training routine, assists in maintaining his mental well-being following his well-known battles with mental health problems.”
On April 10, 2024, in Morecambe, England, Tyson Fury is captured posing for a photograph during a press conference leading up to his highly-anticipated bout against Oleksandr Usyk for the IBF, IBO, WBA, WBO, and WBC Undisputed World Heavyweight titles. This historic clash is scheduled to take place in the majestic Mazuma Stadium in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, as part of the electrifying ‘Ring of Fire’ card. (Photo by Nathan Stirk/Getty Images)
However, Lewis believes that the undefeated 35-year-old will not struggle to find ways to occupy himself in retirement.
According to Lewis, there will be numerous things for him to concentrate on. For instance, he has the option to pursue a singing career and with his abundance of wealth, he will be able to partake in various activities with his family. He is free to do as he pleases, as evidenced by his previous collaboration with his family on a Netflix documentary. I personally watched it and found it to be excellent, and now all my friends are fans of Tyson Fury as well.
Lewis, who converses during an elegant Italian lunch at a high-end restaurant in Riyadh, primarily resides in Toronto. However, he also dedicates some of his time to his residence in Jamaica.
However, he admitted that it’s common for him to watch videos of his past fights, and he frequently finds it hard to believe what he sees.
He further states, “I derive pleasure from watching the HBO fights.”
I don’t have a specific favorite; in fact, I watch every single one of them, which may seem a bit unusual. When I watch the fights, it’s as if I’m not even present. I analyze them so deeply that it feels like I wasn’t physically there. Sometimes, there are a few punches that land on me, and I’m just amazed by it. I was so concentrated that it’s like those blows barely affected me. It’s truly astonishing to witness myself in that state, every single time.
Watch Fury v Usyk, ‘Ring of Fire’ live from Riyadh on TNT Sports Box Office on Saturday 18 May. For more info visit: tntsports.co.uk/boxoffice
