Who else knows how to put on a spectacle than Tyson Fury? The former WBC and Ring heavyweight champion, known for his eccentric personality, has more responsibilities on his shoulders than just being a skillful boxer. He has to be entertaining as well. This he achieves by not just fighting the most lethal opponents, but also by lighting up the stage with his royal walkouts that suit his sobriquet.
Come Saturday night, ‘The Gypsy King’ will show out as he often does. Up until now, he had had his short-lived retirement. But now, he aims to emerge victorious after 15 months of inactivity. For such a large-scale event at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, his fan base awaits to witness how he will enter the ring. But until then, let us look back at the few ways Tyson Fury has made his ring walk in the past.
A Gladiator’s Entry
The arena was bustling with fans, and anticipation was through the roof. The crowd rose in adrenaline as the lights went off, and the color red dominated the lavish Kingdom Arena in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. Dressed like a true gladiator, a tall, big personality emerged from his locker room. Dolly Parton’s 1973 iconic number, “Jolene,” began to make it clear that Tyson Fury had arrived.
A pout on his face, as the lights brightened, he took a seat on a throne, for the king that he is. A mechanical voice welcomed him and addressed him as the “Majestic Warrior.” Ready to take on his debutante boxer opponent, he started to remove his robe, getting comfortable in boxing gear. The 1964 hit, “Oh, Pretty Woman” by Roy Orbison, laid the premise as he made his way around the stage.
Next was Chase & Status, Bou’s 2023 hit, “Baddadan.” Warming up to the song, Tyson Fury was ready to take on Francis Ngannou. What then followed, everyone knows. In a rare sight, the spectacle fell, and the fighter struggled to inch toward victory, winning it only by a slight margin. Next, let’s see how the fighter entered the ring against Derek Chisora.
Was it that cold, Tyson Fury?
It was December 2022, and the United Kingdom was experiencing an icy winter in all of its glory. At the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, the premise was set as the now-35-year-old fighter was entering the ring to defend his title against fellow English fighter Derek Chisora. Wrapped in a red robe, inside covered in warm clothes, and a yellow beanie instead of his crown this time, Fury entered from the shadows in front of 60,000 fellow Britons.
The 1994 number, “Red Right Hand,” by Nick Cave and The Bad Seeds, welcomed the fighter into the spotlight. The packed arena then started jamming to the remastered version of “Three Lions 96” by David Baddiel, Frank Skinner, and The Lightning Seeds (1996). Finally, to The Killers’ “Mr. Brightside”, the fighter made his way to the ring.
A few majestic walk-ins that set the tone for his reign
Fury made his way into a jam-packed Wembley Stadium in April 2022 to fight Dillian Whyte. The fight witnessed one of the largest attendances in post-war history for a boxing event, with a crowd of 94,000 witnessing the thrilling bout. The theatrics were no less than exciting.
The then 33-year-old fighter embarked on his 4-minute-long journey to the ring on a medley of iconic songs. It included the Notorious BIG’s hip hop classic “Juicy” and Kings of Leon’s “Sex on Fire.”
He also brought in Don McLean for a promo version of his iconic song “American Pie.” The PA system played it in all its glory ahead of his entry into the ring. Interestingly, he also sang it during a post-fight interview after his 2020 win against Deontay Wilder. Since then, it has sort of become his unofficial theme song. His signature throne was also not amiss. As fireworks blasted around the avenue, he took a seat on the iconic golden throne, which will very likely be present when he fights Arslanbek Makhmudov this Saturday.
Previously, against Deontay Wilder, he roped in ACDC’s “You Shook Me All Night Long.” For that in-ring engagement, he came dressed as a Spartan King with an entourage of soldiers walking by him. Fury’s showmanship extends beyond extravagant entrances. In a playful tribute to Mexico’s Independence Day weekend for his 2019 Las Vegas fight against Otto Wallin, he donned a sombrero and poncho, complete with a mariachi band serenading him to the ring.
