Tyson Fury is not only a champion inside the boxing ring, he’s now a literary heavyweight outside the ropes after his book scooped a major awards double this week.
Fury’s autobiography ‘Behind The Mask’ charts his incredible comeback story from the brink of suicide and ballooning to 400lbs in weight through to defeating Deontay Wilder to regain his world heavyweight titles.
The book has been voted as Book Of The Year at the Telegraph Sports Book Awards 2020 and also scooped the prize for Autobiography Of The Year.
Fury responded to the news on Twitter by telling his 1.5million followers: “Boom! I’m delighted to win the Best Autobiography of the Year Award at the 2020 Telegraph Sports Awards and the Overall Sports Book of the Year Award. It’s a real honour to win 2 awards alongside some real sporting heroes. Thanks everyone for the support!”
Boom! I’m delighted to win the Best Autobiography of the Year Award at the 2020 Telegraph Sports Awards and the Overall Sports Book of the Year Award. It’s a real honour to win 2 awards alongside some real sporting heroes. Thanks everyone for the support! #ReadingForSport #SBA20 pic.twitter.com/ssqdz1zgfT
— TYSON FURY (@Tyson_Fury) July 15, 2020
The 304-page autobiography, published by Century and released in November 2019, has been widely acclaimed for its honesty and depth as it looks at the way Fury has fought and overcome a lifelong struggle against mental health issues.
‘The Gypsy King’ is now preparing to defend his WBC, Ring magazine and lineal world heavyweight titles against Wilder in their third meeting later this year, and has already agreed the financial structure of a two-fight deal to unify the belts with fellow British world champion Anthony Joshua.
Reviews for ‘Behind The Mask’ have been strong, with just a selection as follows, per Amazon:
Speaking candidly about his struggles with mental health, this is Tyson Fury as you’ve never seen him before., Daily Telegraph
Fury delivers on his Behind The Mask promise. Beneath the rowdy showmanship is a gifted athlete with bottomless reservoirs of determination and a rare willingness to be frank about his vulnerability to depression […] you may have to take him more seriously than your instincts suggest., The Sportsman
‘The story of his recovery and resurgence… struck a chord with fans around the world. When his autobiography, Behind the Mask, was released in November 2019, it reached the No 1 spot on Amazon’s charts within 24 hours.’, iNEWS
‘Behind the Mask is his unflinching account of how he overcame his battles with obesity, anxiety, drink and drug abuse, depression and despair to become one of the most exciting fighters of boxing’s modern age.’, Penguin.co.uk
NB: Behind The Mask was released in paperback on January 21, 2121 – including a new chapter on Fury’s second fight with Deontay Wilder.
