Tyson Fury’s rollercoaster ride through the heavyweight division has been one of the most staggering individual stories to be told in the entire history of boxing.

His rise, fall and rise again depicts just how strong the Gypsy King is… and we don’t just mean physically.

The undefeated fighter dethroned the seemingly invincible Wladimir Klitschko, became a unified heavyweight champion, battled with depression, alcohol and drugs, and ballooned to over 27 stone, only to produce one of the most dramatic sporting comebacks the world has ever seen.

For the most part, Fury had a seemingly easy start to life as a heavyweight boxer. He cruised past his early opponents and had eight knockouts in his opening 10 fights as a professional.

It was only after then that we really began to see the ‘Fury way’ of outsmarting and outboxing his opponents to record the most obvious of unanimous decision (UD) victories.

In particular, his two wins over Dereck Chisora, disposing of Kevin Johnson, and riot over Christian Hammer all but set him up for what would be the greatest night of the British fighter’s life.

A fight with a certain WBA, IBF, WBO and IBO Ukrainian international in the form of Klitschko was to be the first defining moment of Fury’s infamous boxing career. Against all the odds, the Gypsy King travelled to Germany and became the unified heavyweight champion of the world with another trademark UD victory.

If you ever want to understand the style of boxing Fury adopts and just how quick a 6ft 9in man can move, simply watch his 12 rounds with one of the world’s best.

Then, though, came his demise. The highlight of his career merely beckoned the lowest point of his life and the disparity could not have been more devastating.

On December 8, just a measly 10 days after winning the bout, Fury was stripped of the IBF title as the contract for the fight against Klitschko included a rematch clause, precluding Fury from facing the IBF’s mandatory challenger Vyacheslav Glazkov.

Following that, after extensive negotiations, the rematch with Klitschko was abandoned after the British fighter had tested positive for cocaine in the midst of battling depression.

The mental disease worsened after 2015 and was, according to Fury, at an unbearable state by 2016. It was then that he took the decision to vacate the WBA, WBO and IBO heavyweight titles, feeling so low that he was unable to fight or even train.

Consequently, Fury gained an unhealthy amount of weight and was reported to have reached an all-time low when he hit 27 stone and could no longer fit into or buy any suits he had previously been made by his personal tailor and good friend Hav.

Then, the UK Anti-Doping board then released a statement that prohibited Fury from fighting for exactly two years from the date in which he had tested positive on December 13, 2015.

So, a little more after two years of hurt, at the beginning of January 2018, Fury finally took to Twitter to address his undying supporters that he would be re-applying for his boxing licence.

Sure enough, he was accepted and returned in June to fight Sefer Seferi, who was to become the first of his two warm-up fights before he took on the WBC champion Deontay Wilder.

Fury had cited that the arrogance of Wilder was the catalyst in his recovery and that defeating the American had become his new personal goal on his road to recovery.

And on the first day of December in 2018, just two years after being at the lowest and heaviest point of his life, Fury had shed down to full-fitness and got his wish… sort of.

Fury’s dream was to defeat Wilder, and on the sound of the final bell at the end of the 12th round, many believed, including him, that it had become a reality. Shockingly, though, the judges reached a split decision verdict and the fight ended as a controversial draw.

Boxing as well as (if not better) he did against Klitschko, Fury had finished the fight ahead on everyone’s scorecards but the judges. The Brit toyed with the big puncher and made him miss rather embarrassingly with his electric speed and intelligent movement.

If there was ever a point to perfectly encapsulate Fury’s life it would be the last round of his infamous fight with Wilder. With just over two minutes left, Fury was utterly flattened by a frighteningly powerful combination from Wilder.

Fury had, quite literally, hit rock bottom as Wilder began to celebrate, albeit rather prematurely, his victory, however, in typical Fury fashion, the Gypsy King ascended from the depths to make the count and continue the fight to earn what should have been a momentous victory.

Today is Fury’s birthday, and he is without doubt one of the most exciting, skilful and spirited men in the history of sports. Happy Birthday to the one and only Gypsy King.