'Like The Undertaker'… Watch Tyson Fury bounce back from eight knockdowns ahead of his rematch with Oleksandr Usyk

Today at 09:52 AM

With Oleksandr Usyk vs Tyson Fury 2 just a matter of days away, we’re looking back at every single time ‘The Gypsy King’ has had to climb up off the canvas.

In his esteemed career, the Brit has proven his fighting spirit beyond doubt.

Knockdown one: Neven Pajkić

In 2015, Tyson Fury scaled the heavyweight mountain, beating Wladimir Klitschko in a performance the fans will never forget. But long before he ever set foot in the ring with the Ukrainian icon, his undefeated record nearly came crashing down around him, when, at the age of just 22, he went toe-to-toe with Neven Pajkić.

In the second round, the Canadian brawler shocked the world, dropping the heavy favorite with a thunderous overhand right.

For the first time in his life, Fury was in a crisis, having to hold on as his opponent looked for the fight-ending shot. Showcasing his will to win, the Englishman survived the storm, and battled his way back into the contest, eventually ending the bout himself in the following round.

Knockdown two: Steve Cunningham

On April 20, 2013, Fury made his US debut against former cruiserweight world champion Steve Cunningham in the historic Madison Square Garden in New York.

Throughout the build-up, the boxer was his usual entertaining self, trash-talking his rival at every possible opportunity. However, while the press conference was fun, things nearly went horribly wrong in the ring.

In the second round, a showboating Fury was caught with a right hand that sent him spiraling towards the canvas.

Consequently, the 6ft9 giant adapted his tactics, choosing to deviate from his plan to box with the American, and instead, used his size to bully him around the ring.

In the seventh round, Fury detonated possibly the most devastating shot of his career, albeit controversially set up with his forearm, to close the show.

WOW: Oleksandr Usyk vs Tyson Fury 2 simulation predicts shocking result

Knockdown three and four: Deontay Wilder 1

Following his crowning moment against Klitschko, Fury sadly struggled with depression, which kept him out of the ring for several years.

After two comeback fights, he jumped right back in at the deep end, challenging Deontay Wilder for the WBC heavyweight championship.

While many thought it was far too soon for the flashy boxer to take on the biggest puncher in the history of the sport, he rose to the occasion, making ‘The Bronze Bomber’ chase shadows with his illusive footwork.

However, while he had to be perfect for 36 minutes, Wilder only needed to be perfect for one second, reminding Fury of just how hard he can punch, when he dropped him in the ninth.

Remaining composed, the warrior got back on his boxing, and dominated the fight, until a destructive right hand laid him out.

In a moment, in which his own cousin, Nathan Gorman, described him as being ‘like the Undertaker’, Fury, who looked knocked out, somehow stood up, and actually got the better of the rest of the final segment, earning a draw with the judges. Although, most believe he ought to have gotten the win outright.

Knockdown five and six: Deontay Wilder 3

Following a tremendous first fight, Fury battered Wilder from pillar-to-post in the rematch, stopping him in the seventh round. With that in mind, few were excited for the trilogy.

Despite turning up out of shape, the Wilmslowian started fast, sending his arch nemesis crashing towards the canvas in the third.

But while the end looked nigh, Wilder refused to give in, landing a right hand so thunderous in the following round, that shockwaves visibly erupted through Fury’s body. For the first time in his career, the trash talker’s legs had gone.

While he managed to peel himself up off the floor, within a matter of moments, he was on the canvas once again.

Biting down on his gumshield, Fury overcame the fearsome tide, utilizing his superior weight to tire his arch-rival out, before dropping him in the tenth and ending the rivalry once and for all in the eleventh.

Knockdown seven: Francis Ngannou

There’s been some surprising knockdowns in Fury’s career, but none more so than Francis Ngannou.

Prior to the contest, boxing fans were anything but excited for the clash, with most agreeing that while ‘The Predator’ is a fantastic athlete, he certainly wasn’t a practitioner of the ‘sweet science’.

Therefore, when the Cameroonian connected with a beautiful left hook in the third round, nobody could quite believe their eyes.

Not particularly hurt, an embarrassed Fury got up, en route to winning a split decision. However, there are still people to this day who adamantly believe Ngannou won the fight.

Knockdown eight: Oleksandr Usyk

There’s perhaps never been a more intriguing heavyweight match-up than Oleksandr Usyk vs Tyson Fury. On paper, the pair of boxing geniuses presented almost unsolvable puzzles, with the boxing community positively salivating at watching a chess match competed at the highest level.

Following a good start from the former undisputed cruiserweight King, Fury began to make his mark, landing powerful shots, including an uppercut that rocked Usyk to his core.

But like so many have before him, The Gypsy King fell foul to the southpaw’s relentless engine, taking a left hook in the ninth that left him on the edge of disaster.

With his legs completely and utterly gone, Usyk punched him from one side of the ring to the other, with the referee eventually scoring a knockdown after he fell into the ropes.

Somehow, Fury made it to the end of the fight, but for the first time in his career, the judges deemed that he’d lost the bout, leaving him chomping at the bit to get back in the squared circle to get his revenge.

WOW: Tyson Fury claims there's a heavyweight more talented than both Oleksandr Usyk and him