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Shirtless Fury tells Klitschko “you lost to a fat man”

It was never going to be boring.

The Manchester press conference for the unified lineal heavyweight title fight between Tyson Fury and Wladimir Klitschko took place today – and ‘The Gypsy King’ was at his eccentric best.

Fury caused a major shock last November by soundly defeating the long-reigning Ukrainian in Duesseldorf to take the title. As with all Klitschko opponents, Fury had signed a rematch clause, and will now face the dethroned Dr Steelhammer at the Manchester Arena on July 9th.

Due to the contractual obligation, Fury was stripped of his IBF crown, but still holds the WBA, WBC, and Ring belts which he will put on the line against Klitschko this Summer.

At today’s press conference, after entering with an entourage of cheerleaders, Fury goaded the former champ and removed his shirt to chide the irritated Eastern European as to how he “let a fat man beat you.”

The former Irish champion certainly appeared out of shape during the exchange, however the Manchester-born fighter has always balooned in weight between fights, and has claimed that he has already lost a stone in his first nine days of training.

Indeed this is probably only the first of many, many, flashpoints in the lead-up to this year’s biggest fight in heavyweight boxing.

The fight will be shown exclusively live on Boxnation TV (Sky channel 437).

Joe O'Neill

Reporting on Irish boxing the past five years. Work has appeared on irish-boxing.com, Boxing News, the42.ie, and local and national media. Provide live ringside updates, occasional interviews, and special features on the future of Irish boxing. email: joneill6@tcd.ie

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