Category: SOS

Joseph Ashinze remains the most colourful and enterprising goal scorer in the history of Nigerian football because of his trickery and precision style in front of goal. He was one of the players who raised the flag of the defunct Lagos, Stationery Stores Football Club darling team-high during his prime. He was a fast-mover and uncanny striker. Ashinze was so good that he won the local league highest scorer award thrice in 1987, 1988 and 1989. The achievement made former Super Eagles coaches look for him to play for the national team. But his dream of wearing the national colours during the 1994 FIFA World Cup in USA was dashed by a re-occurring injury. He shares his inspiring story with GBOLAHAN DADA.

 

 

 

In the beginning

I was born in Lagos 50-something years ago. I grew up in Lagos Island. I’m a real Lagosian. ‘Omo Eko ni mi.’ All my life is about playing football.  I started early enough with the support of my parents who decided to settle here from Ibusa in Delta State. Playing around the suburb of ‘Isale Eko,’ I found the strength and the encouragement to forge ahead in spite of numerous challenges.

Lagos is like a home to me because I was born and nurtured on Lagos Island and Ebute Metta (West) now called Apapa Road. I was so excited about it.

Ambassador of grassroots football

In the early part of my life as a teenager, I knew that I would make a career in football and I pursued it vigorously with everything within me to succeed. I used to move from one football arena to another. From Campos Square, Lafiaji, Ebute Metta to Mushin Olosha and other parts of Lagos where ‘felele’ set football is played. I started the journey with the late Mudashiru Lawal. Playing football was the only language we understood. The more we played, the more we understood the language of the game. Naturally, I was just flowing in the game and goal-scoring later became a habit.

At St. Paul Primary school, Apapa Road, where I met Nigeria legend, Godwin Odiye, I exhibited my skills before furthering my education at Eko Boys High School

Natural striker

I want to bless God for giving me such a remarkable ability to make a mark in my generation. Goal-scoring always came naturally. No goalkeeper could stop me if I was determined to score. I worked very hard to get to that level because my football career started from the grassroots. No coach discovered me. It is God who gave me the strength and sense of purpose to discover myself and I worked towards attaining the height.

Football then and now

In my active days, footballers play with passion and raw energy. There were more skillful and determined players around but now, footballers are lazy and more money-conscious. In those days even without the cash, footballers loved the game than anything. For example, Stationery Stores recruited quality players without adequate sign-on fees. The players just wanted to play for clubs to launch themselves to stardom.

Considering the security situation in the country now, and the standard of the players we have, fans don’t enjoy football entertainment any longer. In those days, fans came to stadiums because of the players.

In the face of the coronavirus pandemic, Nigeria international with French Ligue 1 side, Nantes FC, Moses Simon, speaks with Taiwo Alimi on how he and his colleagues are coping with the global lockdown.

 

 

With world football locked down due to the ravaging Coronavirus and many leagues forced into suspension across Europe, Asia, Australia and Africa, Nigeria international Moses Simon has been speaking on how he and his colleagues in Nantes have been coping with life sans football.

French president Emmanuel Macron on March 16, 2020, officially announced full locked-down, declaring ‘we are at war with the Corona virus.’

The details of the lock-down outlined tight controls over residents’ civil liberties unprecedented in peacetime.

Residents will be required to download and fill a form online each time they venture outside or risk 38 Euros fine if they were  caught outside without permission.

Not since World War 2 had France experienced such locked-down.

The French league also suffered immediate suspension on March 13 with players condemned into their homes and occasionally coming out to attend to basic things.

On the last count, World Health Organisation (WHO) has confirmed 414179 corona virus cases with 18440 deaths globally.

Meanwhile, Simon, who is on season-long loan from Levante to Nantes, has spoken of how he has been coping amid the pandemic which has forced the French top-flight to a stop.

The Nigeria international said  he misses football but happy to be with his young family.

Simon, who has been busy on the social media posting inspiring ‘stay home and be safe’ messages as a way to encourage his friends and family members to support the global lock-down, said family and the internet has become his companion since the shut-down.

“It’s not been easy worldwide. We cannot just go out or train outside. Europe is in a lock-down and it means there is no football for some time to come,” he explained.

“ I’ve spoken to some of my colleagues and it’s the same. We cannot even visit our friends. For us (footballers) I must say it’s not easy because we have to stay fit. It’s not easy to remain fit indoor and some of my colleagues have been finding it difficult. They are complaining of boredom.”

He is however, taking solace in being with his family-wife and baby daughter in this trying period: “This lock-down is an opportunity to be with my adorable wife and daughter. Since I moved to France, I don’t get to see them physically as often as I would have loved because they are in Belgium.

“I go home once every month, but the lock-down gave me the opportunity to move back to Belgium to be with them. We have been together and taking care of each other. It’s been an enjoyable moments.”

While still savouring the family time, Simon further wrote on his social account: “Thanks my queen for making home the happiest place to be. We love you and to all the strong mothers in the world” to mark last week’s Mother’s Day global celebration.”

Equally speaking about the allure of the home fronts away from Covid-19 catharsis, Simon’s teammate at Nantes midfielder Mehdi Abeid stated he misses football after Ligue 1 was suspended due to pandemic.

The Algeria international revealed he is using the opportunity to spend some time with his family but admitted it has been difficult for him without football.

“For everyone to have to stay at home without going out it is difficult, but necessary,” Abeid told France TV Sport.

“A footballer is often far from home and his family, at least now I see them every day, they have fun with me when I do my training sessions, and I play board games with them.

“We fear that it will be long but we will adapt, I miss football a lot already but life and health is much more important than everything.

“Many are in Europe and are in the same situation, so we are talking, it is perhaps more important than usual to stay in contact.

“We have a WhatsApp group with the medical staff [at Nantes] and must send data from our cardio watch every day, even during confinement we work hard to be ready when the league resumes.”

Nantes was 13th on the Ligue 1 table with 37 points from 28 games before the league was suspended.

Away from Corona virus, Simon said he has found home in Nantes since moving over on a season loan from Spain in August 2019. Since missing the 2018 World Cup thanks to injury, he has found his grooves back in France following the unimpressive time in Levante. He has played 31 times and scored nine goals in all tournaments with seven assists. He also recorded a hat-trick in the 8-0 win over Paris FC in October.

He said: “I’ve had God smiling on me since arriving last summer in France. I met great guys here and I chose FC Nantes because I think I have a lot to learn here because there is a very competent coach [Christian Gourcuff].

“My relationship with Kalifa Coulibaly is great, we met each other when we played at KAA Gent, it’s the first person I asked for information before signing, he told me good things and he did everything for me to sign here. I’m enjoying my stay here,” he added as he speaks more on stints with  Levante, life in Belgium and  his continued mission with the Super Eagles.

LEVANTE

The Levante move was supposed to bring back the good memories and at first I had quite a great time playing alongside and against the best in world football. I did not start playing quickly because I had to learn their tradition and language and had to depend on people there to share some ideas and try everything possible to concentrate on getting the job done.

In spite of everything that happened it is a thing of joy, I feel so happy and I thank God for the opportunity given to me. You all know that La Liga is one of the best leagues in the world, so I am proud that I can play in the league that host some of the best players in the world and I hope that I can learn more from them. Playing alongside the likes of Lionel Messi is unbelievable and a thing of joy for me. Before now, we only watched him play and he was a joy to behold but having him on the same pitch with me playing against each other at Camp Nou was very great.

NANTES

Moving to France was a great decision because I think I have a lot to learn here because there is a very competent coach [Christian Gourcuff. My relationship with Kalifa Coulibaly is great; we met each other when we played at KAA Gent. He’s the first person I asked for information before signing, he told me good things and he did everything for me to sign here.

On getting here Nantes managers treated me well and gave me the opportunity to play quickly against Amiens SC. It was a great match and I have settled down nicely, scoring valuable goals.

HAT-TRICK

It was team play but the hat-trick is special, special to me and the whole team.

All my goals came in the first half and it kind of destabilised them to suffer more. I scored my first in the 22 minutes, while (Thody Elie) Youan netted the second about eight minutes later. Youan set me up in the 35 minutes for my second goal and the third came in 43 minutes.

It was our biggest ever win in the French League cup and we all celebrated. It was an enjoyable moment.

MARRIAGE

My wife Ibukunoluwa is a great woman. Marriage has helped my game a lot. And the coming of our baby has further cemented our love. I know I have a peaceful home and being married and a father has an effect on my performance. I concentrate more on my game because I am responsible to some and I know that they are watching and praying for me. When I feel down and really don’t know what to do, I have a partner that encourages me and helps me calm down and focus on important things. Marriage has helped my game tremendously.

WORLD CUP MISS

I have put that behind me. It affected me because I was good for that team and playing well too. The manager had a plan for me before the injury set in. It was sad moment I felt sad about it. It took me a while to take it off my mind and I know that I would have another opportunity. I am young and playing well and I know the manager is watching.

There is always a second chance in life and I believe in it. I’m going to get that chance again. I do not regret anything because there is another chance for me to be at the World Cup. I just need to keep my head up and play week in week out.  Nigeria has great players who are playing well all over the world, especially in Europe and they are young and have many years to put in playing top notch football.

VICTOR OSIMHEN

Osimhen is a great guy and coming to France has been great because I have hooked up with many of our players here. He’s like a brother and on my arrival, he called me and he told me he’s happy to have me here. We played a great match which we lost 1-0 to his team Lille early March and after that we embraced each other and wish ourselves well. It is a great reunion.

Rejection in English leading club sides; Chelsea and Liverpool, Dominic Solanke says only fired him up to be a better player, writes TAIWO ALIMI

 

Dominic Solanke, the tall Bournemouth of England striker, does not like to be drawn into talk about his Nigerian parenthood. The 22-year-old prefers to talk about his career; how a freakish Reading boy of mixed parentage (Nigeria and England) has made it into the senior national team of England after surviving rejection from Chelsea and Liverpool.

A confident young man whose time in Bournemouth that he joined January 2019, has yielded no goal, Solanke insists he has made the best choice in leaving UEFA CL champions Liverpool. Liverpool is also cruising home to win the 2020 EPL League after 30 years.

Speaking over criticism for leaving Liverpool prematurely, he said:

“I think every footballer just wants to play. That was what I had in mind when I left Liverpool. There is no regret here. You want to show what you can do and I’m definitely doing well here. I have playing time and the senior national team has spotted my talent. I look forward to playing more important role here (Bournemouth).”

He said the success of his friend and England teammate, Jadon Malik Sancho, also helped him take the leap to Bournemouth.

“That Sancho’s success at Dortmund has affected everyone. When one young player sees another young player doing what they think they can do as well, especially when everyone is playing at international level together. Sancho is doing well in Germany and a lot of players would like to follow his path. What he’s done, getting into the England team at such a young age, it will influence a lot of young players.”

Solanke joined Bournemouth in the January transfer window after becoming frustrated at his lack of first-team football at Liverpool.

Solanke had recorded a 17-minute substitute appearance for Chelsea youth side and in October 2014 followed by 21 appearances, 16 of which came off the bench. But, he was locked out of the senior team, prompting his loan deal to Vitesse in the Eredivisie. He returned to the Premier League in May 2017 for Liverpool but that also did not amount to much as he scored only one goal in 21 appearances. Thereafter, he was frozen out.

However, he did score seven goals in 25 Eredivisie appearances during a loan spell at Vitesse and was also a key part of the England U20 squad who won the World Cup in 2017. As such, Bournemouth came for him with a 19million Euro offer.

Though he got his playing time at Bournemouth playing 33 times, Solanke is still burdened by his goal drought since 2019 for his team.

He hopes breaking his year-long goal-scoring duck can kick-start his Bournemouth career.

“It’s been tough. I’ve been a striker all my life, scored a lot of goals – to not score for quite a while is always going to be difficult,” he told Bournemouth’s website.

“I’ve had to do what I’ve had to do for the team, keep trying to help the team.

“I wanted to get that first one and hopefully that can boost my confidence and I can build on that now.

“It’s a big team boost. We needed that after the last few weeks and hopefully we can build on that now,” said the one-cap England international.

“I think it will be good for the team.”

He is, however, happy with his achievement at Bournemouth. “We have made our mark in the EPL and we deserve respect.” He was especially happy with the win at Stamford Bridge in December.

“I’ll give them a bit of stick for winning. A lot of the boys (at Chelsea) I’ve known for years from my time there,” Solanke told the Daily Echo.

“I’ll give them a bit of stick for winning on Saturday!”

The game remained goalless before Solanke’s introduction, in place of Joshua King with 15 minutes to play.

Solanke said: “I think the game was still open (when I came on).

“They (Chelsea) were pushing for a goal and we saw the opportunity.

“They didn’t have many numbers at the back so I think even myself got in a few times. We managed to get the goal and settle the game.

“I think there’s no point in just sitting off and not going for the game when you can see that there are a few chances and you can maybe nick the win and we did that.

“I think probably in the last five or 10 minutes before half-time we just wanted to get into half-time and make sure that we still had the game level.

“Then in the second half everyone put themselves about from the back to the front and we managed to get that goal at the end and see out the game, which we haven’t quite done in the last few weeks.

“That victory at Chelsea gave us hope and we have taken more points after that. It has helped us to believe in ourselves. Of course we can do better.”

Bournemouth remains in the bottom rung of the EPL table.

GROWING UP

I remember vividly my mum and stepfather and my brothers and sister. The family atmosphere helped me to adjust with a clear head to football. I started playing at soccer Brighton Hill Community School. My parents told me I could do whatever I set my mind to and that was important to me.

MOTIVATED BY TERRY    

When I was in Chelsea Academy, I had the good opportunity of meeting John Terry one-on-one. It remains one of my best memories because he was a legend to many youngsters of my time. He spoke nicely to me.  Abramovich just took over the club at that time and he made us in the academy feel very proud that we are a part of the club. I remember that Tammy Abraham and Ruben Loftus-Cheek who are integral part of the team now were in that group.

I won many awards at the academy. One of them is the academy player of the year award. I was also noticed by the England U17 gaffer who invited me to camp. And in 2014, I was part of the team that won the 2014 UEFA European Under-17 Championship. I also scored a few goals to cart home the tournament’s joint top scorer.

VITESSE 

I did not want to leave Chelsea but I desired playing time and they agreed I could go on loan to Vitesse. While in the Netherlands, things went well for me as I scored vital goals for the team. That brought back my confidence and when I came back to Chelsea I expected more playing time but it did not come. That made me to move to Liverpool and the main reason I moved on from Liverpool too.  I think every footballer just wants to play. That was what I had in mind when I left Liverpool. There is no regret here. You want to show what you can do and I’m definitely doing well here. I have playing time and the senior national team has spotted my talent. I look forward to playing more important role here (Bournemouth).”

BOURNEMOUTH’S GOAL DROUGHT 

It’s been tough. I’ve been a striker all my life, scored a lot of goals – to not score for quite a while is always going to be difficult. I’ve had to do what I’ve had to do for the team; keep trying to help the team. I wanted to get that first one and hopefully that can boost my confidence and I can build on that now. It’s a big team boost. We needed that after the last few weeks and hopefully we can build on that now. I think it will be good for the team.

 

SOLANKE’S PROFILE 

Solanke started his career with Chelsea, making his first-team debut in October 2014. Solanke spent the 2015-16 season with Vitesse on loan in the Eredivisie. He signed for Liverpool in July 2017.

Solanke was called up by the senior team for the first time in November 2017 for a friendly against Brazil at Wembley Stadium. He came on as a 75th-minute substitute in a 0–0 draw.

Solanke has represented England at all youth, under-21 and senior levels.

He helped his country win the 2014 UEFA European Under-17 Championship and the 2017 FIFA U-20 World Cup and received the Golden Ball award for best player in the latter tournament.

In 2014, Dominic rose to glory and came into prominence as was part of the under-17 team that won the 2014 UEFA European Under-17 Championship where he was the tournament’s joint top scorer with four goals in four appearances.

Having started his career with Chelsea in the under-8 team, he managed to score 20 goals in 25 appearances in the under-18 team.

Solanke signed his first professional contract with Chelsea in September 2014 and eventually became the youngest player to debut in the UEFA Champions League for Chelsea.

He finished as top scorer in the group stages of the UEFA Youth League after scoring a hat-trick in the final group stage match against Sporting CP ending the tournament as Chelsea won the title, where he managed to score 12 goals in nine appearances.

Solanke joined Eredivisie club Vitesse on a season-long loan to gain first-team experience, where he ended the season with seven goals in 25 appearances, just three behind top scorer.

In 2016-17 season, After rejecting many loan offers from several clubs, Solanke was retained as Chelsea’s third-choice striker.

On 30 May 2017, Solanke agreed to sign for Premier League club Liverpool on 1 July upon the expiration of his Chelsea contract for around £3 million.

For the 2014–15 season, Solanke was awarded the inaugural Chelsea Academy Player of the Year award In January 2015, Solanke was named the England Men’s Youth Player of the Year for 2014. Solanke was awarded the Golden Ball as the player of the tournament in the 2017 Under-20 FIFA World Cup.

World heavyweight unified boxing champion Anthony Joshua recently visited Nigeria and made notable stops in a strong media blitz, he also took time to talk about his decision to return to base, the loss to Ruiz, his reconnection to Nigeria, and plans for the future amongst others. Taiwo Alimi captures the moments. 

No heavyweight champion has brought limelight to Africa since the ‘Rumble in the Jungle’ in Kinshasha, Zaire in 1974 like ‘home boy’ Anthony Joshua (AJ) is doing now.  Boxing ‘greatest’ Mohammad Ali in promoting the ‘Rumble in the Jungle’ travelled the length and breathe of Zaire under charismatic leader Mobutu Sese Seko, running and training with children, youth and elderly on the dusty streets of Kinshasa.

The Ali/Foreman was a resounding success grossing an estimated $520 million and over 50 million pay-per-view audience.

The current Nigeria tour embarked by Unified world heavyweight champion, Joshua has again brought world boxing attention to Africa, and the Sagamu-indigene has done great to reawaken the Nigerian spirit of perseverance and greatness. His visits has take AJ to the slums of Makoko, the upbeat of Africa Shrine, home to dreaming Nigerian youths, his ancestral home Sagamu  and he has spared with children on the sandy streets of Sagamu, where he spent his formative years.

Anthony Joshua was born in Watford to a Nigerian mother, Yeta Odusanya and a British father of Nigerian and Irish descent, Robert, in 1989.He made his debut alongside his cousin, Ben Illeyemi, who is also a professional boxer, in 2013.

Joshua was reported to have spent some of his early years in Nigeria and was a boarding school student at Mayflower School in Ikenne, hometown of Awolowo. He was said to have returned to the United Kingdom when he was 12 years old.

For AJ, touching base and reconnecting with his ancestors helped him to face the 2019 defeat in the hands of Mexican Andy Ruiz and refocus his attention.

Speaking with the Nigerian media in Lagos, the towering power puncher in company of crown prince of Afrobeat, Femi Kuti, and associates, says his Nigerian connection made him stage the glorious comeback in Saudi Arabia to regain his titles (WBA, IBF, WBO, and IBO).

Standing close to the world champion, it is impossible to believe that he’s only 6 feet 6 inches. His huge upright torso makes him look bigger, but he is relaxed and comfortable in the midst of his people.

He smiles often and readily offered his hands to be shaken by the young and old who wanted a feel of the world champion.

Speaking further on his connection with Nigeria, he offers in another interview with Independent in January:

‘I went through a rough patch. I now understand that the good has to come with the bad.

“It can’t be sunshine forever; there have to be stormy times as well. I went through a rough patch but I dealt with it, and it taught me a lot.

“You need to absorb as much information as you can. Learn to be an outgoing person so people give you information.

“Information is key – it used to be reserved for kings and queens but now we have access. Absorb that. It will help you in that anxiety moment because subconsciously there might be one piece of information that gets you through.

“If you’re someone who makes decisions by yourself, trust in your ability and instinct. The mind will play tricks but you have to take control and trust your gut instinct.

“I listen to a lot of talks or podcasts with insight into how to be strong and stay focused and channel my emotions. I am a sponge that absorbs.

“Every morning and when I get ready for bed. It plays in the background so subconsciously I take in the information.”

“I don’t want to be remembered for 10 years then fade out,” he added. “I want to make a mark on eternity.

“Be dedicated to yourself. That’s not about boxing. Have I read? Have I educated myself? Once I’ve ticked those boxes I can walk into work and perform.

“But then you get to the fight and sometimes you think; what if I turned around and said: ‘I can’t do this?’ Everybody is there. The opponent is in the ring.

“You’ve come too far, so you have to just deal with the anxiety. Once you walk down that path you have burned the bridge behind you, so you might as well dominate.”

He adds that he listened to Fela’s songs a long and got attached with one of Femi Kuti’s rework of his father “Water no get enemy.”

“I needed to get back on track and got connected to “water no get enemy” which Femi sang in memory of Fela. I listened to it a lot and selected it when I was getting into the ring in the refight. It brought back the feeling and spirit to reclaim my glory”

Another reason for returning to his roots, AJ notes is to give back what he has gained.

Give back

The main objective was victory and also to bring back the belts. I feel that I have achieved that goal because there was the other side of the world phobia and I felt I have to bring them back to inspire people and use it to make people understand how best to face adversity. People have been asking me what I did differently in the rematch against Ruiz and what I tell them is that it is just a matter of dedication. When I saw what it feels like to lose the belts in one night I felt I must rededicate my time and focus to getting back to where I was. You know before that I have never felt that kind of defeat. It’s all like a rollercoaster and when I lost the fight I became other guy and was like watching the real guy with the belts across the road. So, it gave me a new sense of focus and motivation.”

His formative years in Nigeria, he adds, also helped him appreciate and respects people from all over the world.

“I feel highly connected to Nigeria and because I respect other’s culture and cultural beliefs all over the world, I am not afraid to exhibit mine. Even though I am running my own private race, which is boxing I can’t but feel that I am a part of the great people of Nigeria. I said before the President (Muhammadu Buhari) that if there is anything that they need me for, especially in the area of youth, I will stand up for Nigeria. When I visited the royal father (Akarigbo of Remo) hundreds of people walked with on their foot to the palace.

“My life could definitely have been different. In my house where I grow up I was taught to be respectful and respect the older people around me. And it does n’t matter where they are coming from. I was around the older generation and I tend to learn a lot around them. I did not have anything going into boxing and we have taken it to the world. I believe that the next generation can even do better than us because of the opportunities they have. I think that there is more information out there for them. I think that you can only achieve what you see and you can imagine what the next generation would do given the information at the tip of their finger. It is also important to have drive and I think that works more than the high performance machine in the world.”

At 30, so why is the world boxing top challenger with net worth of $55 million, according to Forbes, still living with his mother?

Living with mum

“Yes! I still live with my mum. If I didn’t I wouldn’t see her because I’m always out and boxing is really big showbiz and I’m always out doing one promo or the other. So, when I go out and come back I’m able to see her and it’s important for me to keep that family union. Family union means a lot to me and helps me to know myself better. I’ve a lot of Nigeria in me; the self belief, determination and family thing.”

AJ is also a faith person. He says praying sustained him while preparing for Joshua/Ruiz 2.

“I pray a lot. It is in the family too. It is a way to stay positive and focus for me. I prayed a lot preparing for Ruiz.”

AJ looks forward to many other big fights but he would not hazard a guess as to when Joshua/Fury would happen. “I open to compete with those men but I can’t say it is Fury or it is that boxer. That is for my manager and promoter to say.

They have my back and I will live that to them. I’ve learnt a lot in these past months.   I’ve won, I’ve unified the division twice, become heavyweight champion, I’ve been put on my back, I’ve lost.

I’m an experienced fighter, so there’s a lot more I can give. I’ve done it once I can do it again. I will keep coming back to Nigeria and connect with my people. I have a job to also give back to my community in the UK. It is where I learnt boxing having nothing and I am now a face of the community.  Like I look up to Lennox Lewis and Larry Holmes, the younger ones now look up to me and I don’t want to let them down. I want them to know that they can achieve their dreams once they remain focus and determine. We are in a world of information and they only need to seek it to find their ways.

Tyson Fury may be the self-anointed Gypsy King, but Comeback King may be a more fitting title after his stunning victory over Deontay Wilder capped a remarkable return to top level boxing. The Mancunian beat US fighter Deontay Wilder in their WBC heavyweight showdown in Las Vegas, with such a dominant performance that even the legendary Mike Tyson could barely contain his excitement in the crowd. Of course Fury has experienced such glory before – he was on top of the world back in 2015 when he defeated Wladimir Klitschko to claim all four world title belts. But his highest high was quickly followed by his lowest lows, as public battles with depression and drug addiction ultimately cost him his accolades and saw him retreat from the sport he loved.

Losing his world titles

Beating Klitschko in Dusseldorf saw Fury claim the WBA, IBF, WBO and IBO heavyweight world title belts. Fury described it as “a dream come true”, although a quirk of how the bout had been arranged meant he was quickly stripped of his IBF title. The contract for the fight had included a rematch clause, meaning Fury could not face the IBF’s mandatory challenger, and so his title was taken after just 10 days.

He gave up the other three in October 2016, after a year in which he was forced to back out of the planned Klitschko rematch due to extreme weight gain (he reached 27 stone), injury, and a charge from UK Anti-Doping.

Drugs and depression

The charge from UK Anti-Doping regarded the banned substance nandrolone – Fury and his cousin Hughie Fury, who was also charged, both denied taking the drug.

After Fury postponed the Klitschko rematch for the second time, declaring himself “medically unfit” to fight, it was reported that he had failed a drug test for cocaine the day before his announcement.

Following the positive test for cocaine, he opened up about his battle with depression and handed back his belts to concentrate on his “medical treatment and recovery”.

The boxer carried out an emotional interview with Rolling Stone magazine, saying he was “going through a lot of personal demons” and was a “manic depressive” – and admitted to having suicidal thoughts.

The comeback begins

Fury went back to training with an eye on returning to the ring in the spring of 2017, but needed his boxing licence to be restored after it was suspended by the British Boxing Board of Control over the nandrolone charge.

Following a potentially expensive legal battle between Fury’s team and UK Anti-Doping, the agency announced in December 2017 that it would resolve the charge.

Tyson Fury has had several run-ins with boxing authorities

Fury reapplied for his boxing licence in January 2018 and had his sights set on Wilder, and warmed up with wins over Albanian fighter Sefer Seferi and Italian Francesco Pianeta.

Healing his public image

Not only was Fury keen to prove himself again in the ring, he also had a public image to heal.

Even before he lost his titles, he caused widespread outrage for appearing to equate abortion and homosexuality with paedophilia in an interview in 2015.

The boxer made offensive comments about homosexuality. Those comments, as well as controversial remarks about female athletes, saw the BBC forced to battle calls for him to be dropped from the running for their Sports Personality of the Year award. Fury later apologised for his comments and has since been praised for his openness about his fight with addiction and depression, having said he has a “massive story to tell” and wants to “help and inspire others”.

Completing his transformation

With the Wilder fight on the horizon, Fury’s incredible physical transformation became even more apparent.

His depression had led to alcohol addiction, which he said saw him “drink 20 pints four or five times a week”, and his body suffered badly as a result.

An intense fitness regime was bolstered by a ketogenic diet, which cuts the carbs and sees high amounts of fat from foods like bacon and eggs burned as energy.

Reclaiming the WBC title

Fury and Wilder both felt they had done enough to win their first match, which was controversially ruled a draw.

It was the first time in his professional boxing career that Fury had been denied victory, but normal service resumed when he beat German Tom Schwarz and Swede Otto Wallin – both in Las Vegas.

Fury clearly felt at home in Paradise, where he and Wilder agreed to have their rematch.