TYSON FURY enters his undisputed fight with Oleksandr Usyk feeling like his iconic Deontay Wilder wars took YEARS off his life.
The 35-year-old Brit came off the canvas twice to secure a draw in 2018 against one of the most vicious punchers of the modern era.
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His Lazarus-like rebirth in the 12th century – after a gunshot that rattled his skull – remains the stuff of legend.
Two years later, the 6ft 9in Morecambe ace destroyed Wilder in seven sensational rounds to win the WBC title.
But in the trilogy fight – after weeks of sleeping on the floor of Alder Hey Hospital and running around the grounds after his daughter Athena was born prematurely – he was in another thrilling fight and survived two fourth-round knockdowns to triumph in another fight for the ages.
Unfortunately, when the father of seven – usually more prone to small talk and tall tales – reflects on those magnificent moments, he fears they shortened his life expectancy.
With a new steely sincerity that this four-belt fight seems to have brought out of him, Fury said: “I believe that.
“I believe that every time you enter the ring you leave with less than you had when you entered.
“But it’s a good job that I live for today and don’t think about the future, otherwise I’d be screwed.”
In characteristic Fury showman style, he names his Lord and Savior next – just like Sylvester Stallone.
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TYSON FURY VS OLEKSANDR USYK: ALL THE DETAILS YOU NEED BEFORE A HUGE UNDISPUTABLE HEAVYWEIGHT FIGHT
He said: “There is no tomorrow. As Apollo Creed said to Rocky: ‘In my faith there is no tomorrow.’
“Jesus said he would return like a thief in the night, without time, date or time. Therefore, be prepared and live for today, because tomorrow is not promised.
“I know some people who went to bed and didn’t wake up, so every day is a blessing, so I take advantage of that and enjoy every day.
“Whenever people ask how I am, I tell them I’m alive, which is a good start.”
Former undisputed cruiserweight king Usyk, 37, doesn’t wield the same power as Alabama slammer Wilder – who idiotically claims he wants a ‘body on his record’.
But Fury still went through a grueling camp with hundreds of rounds.
And if his new Saudi backers want to maximize his drawing power, he wants his career mega-money gone quickly – after watching the years pass by as daughter Venezuela approaches her 15th birthday in September.
And contemplating the five years that have passed since his first battle against Wilder and with a snap of his fingers, he said: “Five years have passed like this. 2019 seems like yesterday.
“My daughter was a little girl and now she’s huge.
“When you’re doing something and doing what you want, the years go by quickly.
“So I’m not too worried about the negative things about sticking around and boxing.
“If there are ten fights in the next five years, then I want them quickly. If I’m going to have them, let’s get them together quickly.”
Wilder’s draw provoked a drastic change in Fury’s style, overnight he transformed from a clumsy, elusive jab-and-move into a powerful 20th puncher and crushed the returning Wilder, Tom Schwarz and Dillian Whyte.
It remains to be seen which Fury will turn up in Riyadh on Saturday to face the diminutive southpaw Usyk, who outsmarted Anthony Joshua in two one-sided fights.
Surprisingly, Fury reckons he was a much better fighter long before his switch from scoring boxer to PPV-selling slugger.
He added: “I was probably better then. I was younger, I was in my early 20s, now I’m in my early 30s.
“I was a better fighter 12 years ago, I had the fountain of youth, now I have the wisdom of age.
“My youth escaped me and my experience has to take control, I’m not a chicken.
“If you look at the greats, when they were 35, it was said that they were finished and outdated. I have to put youth aside and use my experience and mentality.”
Meanwhile, Fury told Joshua that his week-long trip to Riyadh will be a waste of time.
AJ, 35, arrived in the Saudi capital on Sunday night and will watch his two-time conqueror Usyk face Fury.
But any chance of him being able to step in and fight Fury next – ending the mega-money rematch clause – was destroyed by the Gypsy King.
The 6ft 9in ace from Morecambe said: “There’s not much he can build on because we have a two-fight deal so he has to wait until it’s all over.
“All fights are easy to do in any weight category.”
But if Fury destroys Usyk, why wouldn’t he do a pointless repeat and move on to the biggest fight in British boxing history?
WBC champion Fury smiled and said: “What are we in this for? Money. If I get a double bubble for a job, there’s not much more to be said.”
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