Why is Tyson Fury Called the Gypsy King?

Tyson Fury is going to face Dillian Whyte in a monumental heavyweight clash on 23rd April, 2022. This will mark the return of Tyson Fury since his historic win over Deontay Wilder in the trilogy in 2021. Widely regarded as the best heavyweight boxer of this generation, Fury certainly has a persona that get the fans’ attention. Though Fury has multiple perstigious titles to his name none of them come close to “The Gypsy King” title.

The title ‘The Gypsy King’. Tyson earned the title in 2015 after defeating Wladimir Klitschko. But, how did Tyson Fury get the nickname as a tribute to his gypsy heritage?

Tyson Fury’s Nationality

Born on 12 August 1988, Tyson Fury spend his early childhood in the Wythenshawe area of Manchester with his Irish parents Amber and John Fury

Tyson Fury comes from an Irish Traveller tribe known as gypsies.  These tribes are people who moved to Europe in the mid-eighth and ninth centuries. Apart from being brave, strength is another domain these groups shine in. So, in order to discover the bravest and strongest among all they organize bare-knuckle fights. The one who wins the fight is pronounced as ” The Gypsy King.”

How did Tyson Fury get the nickname “The Gypsy King”

Tyson Fury never really fought in a bare-knuckle fight to get this name. Apparently, there were two such gypsy kings in Tyson’s bloodline. One from his maternal side and the other from his father’s. Hence, His relatives predicted if Fury chooses boxing then he would conquer the boxing world.

Rightly so, Fury was quite successful and even undefeated in boxing. But, as he never chose the path of bare-knuckle boxing he didn’t get the ” Gypsy King” title. However, soon after he won the Wladimir Klitschko fight and won WBA, IBF, and WBO heavyweight titles his ancestors decided to crown him with “The Gypsy King” Title.

Fury has faced discrimination for being a gypsy

Even though gypsies are well protected by the UK law against any kind of discrimination, Fury expressed that he has faced racial discrimination in the UK several times. He once claimed that he was denied entrance to a restaurant because he was a traveler.

This in the end forced him to move to the USA.  Fury once revealed “I am going to America where champions are better thought of. I am moving to Los Angeles where people have a better life.”

However, the discrimination followed him to the USA as well. Fury said that he still experiences racism: “I am a white male but I suffer racism in 2020 as a white person because I’m a Traveller.”