Heavyweight boxing champion Tyson Fury speaks about his Irish traveller heritage

WBC heavyweight boxing champion Tyson Fury has spoken about his hometown – and why he wouldn’t swap it for the world.

The Manchester born fighter is part of the Irish Traveller community and lives with his wife Paris and their five children in the northern English seaside town of Morecambe.

Fury, who is nicknamed the Gypsy King, has fought in the USA for the last two years, but has no intention of moving there permanently.

The 31-year-old said: “People say to me ‘why don’t you live in California or America?’ – why would I?

“Why would I abandon my own country for a bit of money and some fame?

“I love it. I would never leave Morecambe. It’s true beauty. If the weather was better, every house here would be a million quid.”

The five-bed, four-bathroom Fury family home is estimated to be worth around €650,000.

While that is a considerable sum, it is a drop in the ocean compared to multi-millions the star has earned in his boxing career which has seen him win every professional title there is – and achieve victories over hard-hitting champions such as Deontay Wilder and Wladimir Klitschko.

It is also a world away from Fury’s upbringing, living in a caravan on his dad John’s land.

Fury hasn’t forgotten his roots and his current home includes a restored and customised ‘Gypsy wagon’ in his garden, that he sometimes takes for a run while he is in training.

Fury said: “It’s real gold, gold leaf, all hand-painted. The Gypsy code says you must travel towards the sun, so we keep the food towards the back.”

After returning to Morecambe, Fury celebrated becoming a two-time champion by going to Keegan’s café with his dad for an avocado, smoked salmon and sourdough toast breakfast.

Away from the ring, Fury has been a vocal advocate for mental health issues and takes part in charity work for children’s hospitals.

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