Fury vs. Wilder: Why Tyson Fury is called the 'Gypsy King'

The top two heavyweight fighters in the world will face off for a second time on Saturday night, as Deontay Wilder (42-0-1) and Tyson Fury (29-0-1) enter the ring for a follow-up to their thrilling draw 14 months ago (9:00 p.m. ET, ESPN+). Fury, the “Gypsy King,” has become a fan favorite and is expected to be well supported inside the MGM Grand Garden Arena – but if you’re a casual boxing fan, you may not be aware of Fury’s incredible backstory.

Fury’s family is a part of the Irish traveller community, and many of his relatives have competed as bare-knuckle boxers. His father, John, competed as “Gypsy John Fury.”

It was explained in an excellent HBO Real Sports segment from 2016 that within the travelling world, the best bare-knuckle boxers earn the title of “Gypsy King.” Fury is related to two boxers, Uriah Burton and Bartley Gorman, who were both referred to as “King of the Gypsies” during their fighting careers.

Fury adopted the moniker as his own boxing nickname, and became one of the ultimate Gypsy Kings in 2015, when he stunned Wladimir Klitschko to become the world heavyweight champion.