Tyson Fury might have joked that he’s the ‘fat man’ of the heavyweight division.
But the WBA, WBO and IBO world champion is deadly serious about getting in shape for the rematch against Wladimir Klitschko.
The British champ revealed that he had put 3-stone on since that famous night in Dusseldorf where he ended the Ukrainian boxer’s 10-year stranglehold on the division.
In true Fury style, the Mancunian whipped his top off to proudly display the post-fight paunch he was nursing when the two came face to face for the press conference.
10 weeks before my biggest fight,#yesican & looking fantastic shape pic.twitter.com/exIQZviyqa
— TYSON FURY (@Tyson_Fury) May 1, 2016
But that belly fat is all coming off as Fury is dieting and training hard for the heavyweight megafight on July 9 in Manchester with Fury proclaiming “I can go from an obese, fat pig to a ripped Adonis in 12 weeks.”
He lost one stone in just nine days at the start of a gruelling 12 week training camp. But he is expecting to actually come into the fight heavier than the last time he faced Klitschko when he weighed in at 17st 8lbs.
Feeling like a beast, on the loose,
Somebody pinch me, boom. @Klitschko I'm coming for u baby boy, with love❤️❤️❤️❤️ pic.twitter.com/QICtc4L5qq— TYSON FURY (@Tyson_Fury) May 30, 2016
“I’ll be a different shape to last time, I’ll be bulkier, said Fury in the Mirror. “I’m bigger now than I’ve ever been in my life, up the top, I’m massive. Strong as a bull.
“Last time I was very fit, athletic, thin. I lost six and a half stone, which is crazy. This time I’ve only had to lose three stone and I’m not focusing on losing fat, I’m focusing on building power and muscles.
“This is going to be a different fight. He’s coming to knock me out and I’m going to blast him, so I’m not going to be moving round like a lightweight this time.”
There has been a wholesale switch-up in Fury’s diet and the fighter, who is training out in Holland, says he has cut out meat all together.
Today's sparing was epic, loving my work ATM, thank you to all the guys helping me with the sparing,#beastmode. pic.twitter.com/qHDhnjMnOu
— TYSON FURY (@Tyson_Fury) May 28, 2016
“For five weeks in this camp I didn’t take any carbohydrates at all, that’s hard work, and I’ve given up meat as well.
“So I’m just eating fish, seafood and salad, and for the last two weeks I’ve been taking a small amount of carbs.
“All my life I’ve heard, ‘What’s stronger, a fish or a cow?’ But I just don’t like meat any more. I don’t like how they have to kill animals – I’m eating dead flesh on a plate.”
While it seems Fury has gone pescatarian in his pre-fight preparations, he’s not the only heavyweight boxer who has give up meat.
David Haye credits the current shape he’s in on his second coming in the heavyweight division to turning vegan.
We took an in-depth look at the Haymaker’s eating plan here.