SecondsOut Awards 2018: Comeback Of The Year, Tyson Fury 

By Andy Rivera: Many people thought the ‘Gypsy King’ was finished after being out of the ring for three years and underprepared when he challenged WBC Heavyweight Champion Deontay Wilder earlier this month, but in a fight many felt he won in defending his lineal title Fury proved if anything he is still a man to be reckoned with in Heavyweight division. For all of the aforementioned Fury is our 2018 Comeback Fighter of the Year.

After defeating Wladimir Klitschko in 2015 for the Lineal Heavyweight title, Fury descended into a depression, fell out of love with boxing, piled on around 8st and took to drug use. Many felt his run as one of the top fighters in the world was over and would never return to his former glory.

After getting help and the mindset to make a return to boxing and his claim to still being the heavyweight champion of the world and never losing the title in the ring, Fury decided to get back in shape after ballooning to over 450 pounds and see if he can make some noise.

The Gypsy King made his return in June of this year taking on Sefer Seferi in Manchester, England, Fury looked pudgy and slow in stopping the well overmatched Seferi in the fourth round. After the victory Fury stated he wanted to fight fellow English fighter and holder of WBA/WBO/IBF/IBO titles Anthony Joshua. Fury also mentioned Wilder as well as a possible opponent.

In August, Fury lost a few more pounds and if victorious over Francesco Pianeta, would battle Wilder for the WBC strap and lineal Heavyweight titles. Fury looked better but still fighting past his normal fighting weight around 245-250. He was able to dominate Pianeta with a 10 round unanimous decision and book himself a December 1 showdown with Wilder.

Wilder, who was in negotiations for a shot at Joshua but settled for his first super fight with Fury, figuring as most it be good to beat the man, who beat the man, who beat the man, in gaining lineal recognition as champion. Many felt this would be an easy win for Wilder over the out of shape Fury, we were wrong. Yes, we, and I myself included, figured Wilder would win easily having stopped 39 of 40 opponents.

Fury proved that he not only could withstand two Wilder knockdowns, but outside that he seemed to be faster than Wilder, beat him to the punch and out boxing the wild one. The end result was a draw with many at ringside feeling Fury had won the fight. The draw was suitable with Wilder retaining his WBC title and Fury retaining his Lineal crown, both boxers showed the world they were willing to fight each other and a highly anticipated rematch is on the cards.

Fury showed he was for real and made his return in 2018 one of the best comebacks in boxing history. Better yet he is showing one of the best comebacks in life.