Behind the Mask: My Autobiography (Tyson Fury)

Most males I know in their twenties like sports, I am no exception. I even spent three years and thousands of pounds doing a Sports Science degree (still not the England manager) yet when it comes to boxing, I know more about rocky road than I do Rocky Balboa. Naturally, when there’s a big fight on like Haye versus Bellew I will watch, but that’s more as an excuse to go the pub with my friends who after their first pint magically turn into world-class boxing pundits. The knowledge I had on Fury prior to reading was he is a highly outspoken man who won some belts before he disappeared from the scene through personal issues. I didn’t like Tyson Fury before I read this book, I thought he was a cock. I only read it because my brother had it and two weeks into lockdown a distraction was needed.

One thing that the book showed me is that boxing is not fair. Your talent isn’t what gets you to the top like in other sports. It is who you have in your corner, promoting you, getting you the big fights to help you build a name for yourself. Tyson Fury in his young career was often overlooked despite his talent. This he goes on to say is essentially why he puts on the mask of this brash, cocky heavyweight. It’s a show, to help him build his name and his brand (which you could say worked since his book is selling for £20). Most athletes at the top of such sports are the same. Look at Connor McGregor. Look at Muhammed Ali. He said “I am the greatest, I said that even before I knew I was” and he’s a sporting hero. Yet when Fury talks like this people including myself see him as the villain. This could be because of the increasing popularity of the softer-spoken Anthony Joshua.

This book was highly compelling. I read it in just a couple of days and that was because the more I learnt about Tyson’s battles out of the ring the more I respected what he did in it. The man had everything. He was the unified heavyweight world champion, was married to a loving wife and owned the houses and cars average Joe’s can only dream of. Despite this, he was in a dark place which is something I can relate to on a much smaller scale. It just shows that no matter who you are and what you have mental health can fuck you in ways you wouldn’t believe. This is why after reading this book I have the utmost respect for Tyson Fury. It is hard to describe his struggles without ruining the book, hence the vague description. All I can say is if you read this book you will likely have a newfound respect for a man who is going to be in the headlines for years to come (for all of the right reasons).

8.0/10.