Tyson Fury: Reflections of a Gypsy fighter

You might argue with the PR guru Max Clifford when he says Tyson Fury is the next big thing in boxing, but there's no way you would fancy disputing it with the young man himself. Standing a tad short of 6ft 9in, weighing in at 18 stone, unbeaten in 16 contests and freshly installed as the British and Commonwealth heavyweight champion, the 23-year-old Mancunian not only looks the part but is beginning to live up to his highly marketable moniker. When celebrity beckons, Clifford is a handy man to have in your corner, and while he exercises caution ("You never know what's going to happen in boxing") he clearly believes the fists of Fury might one day bring at least a slice of the fame and fortune of another heavyweight who was once on his books – Muhammad Ali. "He's got fast hands, like Ali," says Clifford. "And he's a great talker. He knows how to sell tickets, how to play the game. He could be a huge star – in the ring and out. There are so many interesting aspects to him, not least the Gypsy thing."