Hollywood actor Ray Winstone says Tyson Fury’s comeback ‘a Rocky Balboa story’ and backs him to beat Anthony Joshua

Ray Winstone says Tyson Fury’s incredible boxing comeback is a real-life Rocky Balboa story.

The Hollywood star – a talented amateur fighter before making it big in acting –  reckons Fury’s fall and rise back to the top of his sport could well be destined for the big screen after the 31-year-old revealed he had been inundated with offers from movie directors to tell the tale of his career.

Fury spent two-and-a-half years out of the ring due to mental health issues but is now king of the heavyweight division once again

Ryan Hafey/PBC

Fury spent two-and-a-half years out of the ring due to mental health issues but is now king of the heavyweight division once again

Rocky Balbao is the character played by Sylvester Stallone in the fictional Rocky film series charting the life of an everyman fighter who overcame the odds and challenges thrown at him to become a boxing icon

Getty Images – Getty

Rocky Balbao is the character played by Sylvester Stallone in the fictional Rocky film series charting the life of an everyman fighter who overcame the odds and challenges thrown at him to become a boxing icon

Having overcome battles with drinking, drugs and depression, Fury capped his remarkable return to top level boxing by beating Deontay Wilder in February to become a two-time heavyweight champion of the world.

“To me that is a Rocky story, Tyson Fury,” said British acting great Winstone, a London schoolboy champion who won 80 of his 88 amateur fights.

“You would have written him off as a big old plodder. But he put his mind to it, he went ‘I’m good enough, I’m going to train and put all the rubbish behind me and get on with it’ and look at what he has done – he has won a world title.

“He is a world champion and he deserves to be as well.”

Fury has been a mental health advocate and has earned praise for opening up about his struggles

Getty

Fury has been a mental health advocate and has earned praise for opening up about his struggles
Tyson Fury tells talkSPORT how he is coping mentally with being in lockdown

Winstone has been a big fan of boxing throughout his life and was in awe of Fury’s performance against Wilder earlier this year, as he put on a masterclass to snatch the previously unbeaten American’s WBC title.

“What I loved about it is he went back to basic boxing. His boxing ability was so far superior than Wilder’s,” he said.

“He played with him at times. He knew what he was going to do.

“It was a fantastic show of skill from Tyson and he just went up in my opinion so much.”

Winstone is also a big fan of Britain’s other world heavyweight champion – Anthony Joshua.

AJ suffered a shock defeat to Andy Ruiz last summer but reclaimed his WBA, IBF and WBO belts in impressive fashion in their rematch in December.

Joshua beat Mexican-American Ruiz via unanimous points decision in their Saudi Arabia showdown

Getty Images – Getty

Joshua beat Mexican-American Ruiz via unanimous points decision in their Saudi Arabia showdown

“What I like about AJ is the respect he shows to the other fighter,” said Winstone, the co-founder of a new sports agency, Integral Sports Management.

“A lot of people come out and dog one another off to sell tickets but AJ has still sold tickets by being a gentleman and showing respect to the man standing on the other side of the ring.

“He went back to his boxing ability against Andy Ruiz and he boxed beautifully. He boxed his head off.

“We have two heavyweight world champions – it is quite incredible.”

Like every other boxing fan, Winstone is eager to see Fury and Joshua face off once the sport resumes following the coronavirus lockdown.

But who would he back to emerge triumphant in what would be the biggest fight in British boxing history?

“If he keeps himself in shape, I fancy Tyson to win,” said Winstone.

“It will be a close thing because AJ can punch, he can box. But it would certainly be one hell of a fight. I look forward to seeing it.”


Ray Winstone is the co-founder of Integral Sports Management. Read more about ISM here and follow them on Twitter at @integsportsmgmt and on Instagram @integralsportsmanagement.

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Boxing – talkSPORT

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