Tyson Fury insists he’s ready to rule world

Tyson Fury is a lot of things. Brash. Crude. Eccentric. Offensive. However you label him, though, you can never accuse him of being boring.

The outspoken, unpredictable 6ft 9in traveller challenges for the world heavyweight championship this weekend against Wladimir Klitschko, a man who could not be more different.

There are many who would hate to see Fury upset the odds and snatch the WBA, WBO and IBF titles from their long-reigning owner. His foul-mouthed tweets, brushes with homophobia, religious outbursts and unpredictability have prompted some to question his sanity.

Even Klitschko himself suggested the 27-year-old suffers from bipolar disorder.

“It’s just an opinion,” Fury said. “Everybody has different opinions and it’s not to be taken personally. I don’t think Klitschko has much else to say to be honest, he’s always on about this ’therapy work’ and giving me therapy. Same old story. He’s a one-trick pony who can’t think of anything else to say so he keeps saying the same stuff.

“I’m not really too interested in what people think about my mindset because it’s none of their business, is it?

“Who has the authority to step into my brain and have a little mooch round in there, other than myself? Nobody. So whatever people say doesn’t matter.” While Fury is brash, unkempt, sometimes fleshy, often crude and always controversial, the man in the other corner is Dr Jekyll to his Mr Hyde.

A university graduate, the dapper, chiselled, diplomatic media machine with a glamorous American actress on his arm remains cool and calculated at all times.

After Fury’s bizarre, sometimes hilarious build-up to the contest, fight week in Dusseldorf has been significantly calmer.

His wild rants and mood swings offer an insight into one side of his psyche. Yet in his more considered moments, he speaks with humility and maturity. He insists he will take little pride in victory this weekend as “pride is a very foolish thing”. His life will not change, because “boxing is not the be-all and end-all”.

He seems calm, content and confident. His tone has been more considered and respectful towards Klitschko but he maintains the world is craving a new world heavyweight champion after the veteran’s somewhat sterile nine-year reign.

Fury, who serenaded his opponent with a rendition of ’Wing Beneath My Wings’ at yesterday’s public work-outs, added: “I’ve said this fight would never happen for years because I’m all wrong for Wladimir and I was convinced he wouldn’t want to fight me.

“Since 2011 I’ve been saying it wouldn’t happen and on Saturday night I’m being proven wrong, as long as it actually happens.” Fury insists the support at the 55,000-capacity ESPRIT Arena in Dusseldorf will not be one-way in favour of Germany-based Klitschko.

“I’ll most definitely have a lot of support from the Travelling community around Europe,” he said.

“There’ll be a lot of people from all over the country, all over Europe coming to this because it’s what you call ’a once-in-a-lifetime’ calendar event.

“Fury insists he is ready to rule the world. But is the world ready for Fury?