Tyson Fury can be boorish and crass. He can make you squirm and shudder with his outbursts and prejudices. The giant WBC world heavyweight champion can also seem petty and ridiculous when insulting his opponents. But there is a telling difference between the cartoon version of the Gypsy King and the reflective man who talks with stark candour about his life away from the hubbub of fight week.
In the early hours of Sunday morning in Riyadh, around 1am local time, Fury will fight Oleksandr Usyk, the IBF, WBA and WBO king. The winner will become boxing’s first undisputed world heavyweight champion this century and everything will seem wild and outlandish compared to Fury’s contemplative mood now.
