Glittering theatrics and an intriguing battle with Francis Ngannou obscured various realities behind the mask in Riyadh
On Thursday night, a mere 54 hours before he stepped into the ring to face Francis Ngannou, Tyson Fury sat in his cluttered dressing room in Riyadh and grinned with devilish certainty as he compared himself to Kipling. Yet, rather than reflecting on his ability to treat both triumph and disaster as impostors, the WBC world heavyweight champion licked his lips and made a more amusing reference.
“I know boxing like Mr Kipling knows cakes,” Fury said with a throaty cackle.