The boisterous, charismatic Tyson Fury was once quiet and reserved, according to London 2012 silver medalist John Joe Nevin.
The Mullingar native was guest on this week's Off The Brawl and touched on his relationship with the WBC Heavyweight champion, Tyson Fury.
The two attended a training camp in Poland back in 2007 and Nevin revealed that the heavyweight boxer was a much different character back then.
“I knew he was good. I didn’t think he’d go this far but believe it or not Tyson was really shy. There was no singing. You’d barely get two words out of him. Then all of a sudden he grows up.
“Before that camp, even as a junior boxer I’d go away with the Irish team and he’d be with the GB team but we were kind of close - the GB and Irish teams. He was never a big talker so something happened,” Nevin said.
Nevin, who believes Fury won both his bouts with Deontay Wilder, was impressed with Fury’s tactics in the second fight and felt that his extra weight benefited him greatly.
“Obviously he got the job done but he had felt Deontay Wilder’s power before that. He knew what he was like strength-wise. But he knew he had this three extra stone on top of him to lean on him and tire him out.
“If you get someone who’s three stone heavier than you leaning on you for one or two rounds [it tires them out]. Then he complains of carrying the 40-pound suit,” Nevin commented.
'He's better than Joshua'
Wilder is reportedly interested in a third fight with Fury, but the two-time Olympian couldn’t see past another victory for the lineal heavyweight champion.
“I think so. He’s too big, too slick. He won the first fight. To me, he won the first fight.
“I wasn’t expecting that he’d win it in this style, the last fight, but he’s flying now. To me, he’s the best heavyweight in the world. He’s better than Joshua, he’s better than Wilder,” Nevin said.
However, Fury has been condemned for controversial comments in the past, and Nevin felt that it would be best for him to choose his words more carefully.
“You still need to keep your feet on the ground. You don’t need to be saying silly stuff.
“He’s walked himself into some situations that he shouldn’t have over his mouth some days, with women’s boxing and stuff like that. You just need to keep a lid on some stuff,” Nevin said.
Download the brand new OffTheBall App in the Play Store & App Store right now! We've got you covered!
Subscribe to OffTheBall's YouTube channel for more videos, like us on Facebook or follow us on Twitter for the latest sporting news and content.
