Tyson Fury’s win again illustrated the contradictions in boxing

The question of whether it’s possible to separate the art from the artist came up again, writes Tom Kershaw

Over the course of his colourful career, Fury’s actions have often become mired in such grey areas (Getty Images)

Boxing has always been a sport racked with contradictions but rarely have they been laid so bare as at Wembley Stadium on Saturday.

On the one hand, Tyson Fury’s homecoming was a triumphant success, cementing his position as the leading heavyweight of this generation in front of a record crowd. They had sung his praises from the outset, drawn in and inspired by the journey that has taken Fury from the depths of depression back to the heights of sporting invincibility over the past seven years.

The ferocious uppercut he delivered in the sixth round that shattered the resistance of fellow Briton Dillian Whyte was the crowning moment all those in attendance had craved.

It is undeniably a success story worthy of celebrating but, as is so often the case in boxing, beyond the spectacle broadcast to the world lies a shadow of uncomfortable caveats. In the weeks leading up to the bout, Fury’s former adviser, Daniel Kinahan, was sanctioned by the US government over his alleged leadership role in an Irish drugs cartel.

Shortly afterwards, Fury’s promoter, Bob Arum, claimed he had paid millions of dollars in consultancy fees to Kinahan owing to his role in negotiating Fury’s memorable trilogy with American fighter Deontay Wilder.

Over the course of his colourful career, Fury’s actions have often become mired in such grey areas. There was the backdated two-year ban he served after testing positive for the banned performance-enhancing drug nandrolone. Fury, 33, claimed the result was due to eating uncastrated wild boar and he has largely escaped the reputation that is usually attached to such discrepancies. There were the homophobic comments he made in 2015 that left no room for such defence or dispute. This week, when questioned about his relationship with Kinahan by a reporter from Sky Sports, Fury became so irritated that he claimed he would never speak to the broadcaster again.

It can create a difficult balance when reporting on a live event like the one at Wembley, where it was impossible not to be drawn into the spectacle. The atmosphere was electric, the knockout sensational, and as Fury sang “American Pie” to an enchanted crowd, the contradictions can’t help but blur into the background noise.

Whether it is possible to separate the art from the artist is an age-old question pertinent to so many areas of life, but boxing has always had a skill at making it feel all the more pronounced. Saturday night was another of those occasions when the dark and the light seem to blur into one.

Yours,

Tom Kershaw

Sports writer