Tyson Fury Fell Into Depression and Reached Nearly 400 lbs After Becoming World Champion – How He Made His Remarkable Comeback

The professional boxer once conquered one of the sport's most dominant champions, only to fall into turmoil and drift from the top. However, he vowed to be great again, and the photos at the end of this article document his stunning transformation.

In 2015, Tyson Fury defeated Wladimir Klitschko by unanimous decision, ending the Ukrainian veteran's decade-long reign and becoming heavyweight champion.

Yet reaching the top did not bring the stability he might have expected. Fury later spoke about struggling with depression as he tried to deal with his new level of fame, fortune, and public scrutiny.

His life increasingly revolved around alcohol, drugs, and unhealthy food, while his weight climbed to roughly 28 stone, or close to 400 pounds. He also experienced suicidal thoughts during the period and ultimately relinquished his heavyweight titles following a failed drug test.

At one particularly low point, Fury took his Ferrari onto the road and contemplated driving into a wall. However, thoughts about the family he would leave behind stopped him from following through.

His habits during that period also offered some indication of how rapidly his weight had increased. Former trainer Ben Davison recalled encountering Fury in a lift before noon and watching the heavyweight take out a bottle of Patrón and drink from it.

The British boxer later described the extent of his alcohol and food intake during an appearance on "The Joe Rogan Experience," explaining that changing those habits became central to losing the weight. He shared:

"I was eating a lot and drinking a lot and I just stopped that stuff. My weight was put on through drinking excessive lager. There are 500 calories in a pint of lager, and I would go out and drink 18 of them, followed by whisky and vodka. Then I'd stop off on the way home and eat pizzas and kebabs."

Once Fury committed to returning to boxing, however, simply resuming his old routine was not enough. His approach to exercise changed alongside his diet, with shorter and more explosive sessions replacing some of the lengthy training he had previously favored.

He also stressed that exercise could only take him so far without discipline away from the gym. "My diet was the most important thing. You can train like a Trojan warrior but not eat right and take three steps forward and two and a half back," he noted.

The heavyweight eventually set himself a clear target — he wanted to become world champion again. At one stage before preparing for his first fight with Deontay Wilder, Fury weighed 378 pounds.

He brought Davison into his team, added a nutritionist, and began the demanding process of getting himself back into fighting condition. But the scale did not change overnight, as Davison later revealed, "People don't really know the extent of where Tyson [was] at the very beginning."

"He was in a bad place. It was very bad. Sometimes I used to look across and think, 'I don't know if this job can be done.' I genuinely did think that, as did many others," he continued.

Their partnership required commitment from both men. So, Davison left his own gym to work with Fury, while the former champion placed his comeback in the relatively inexperienced trainer's hands. Davison explained:

"He put his trust in me, because everyone was asking why he'd hired me. I had to put my trust in him by leaving my gym at home and make a commitment to him. We made a commitment to each other and we've ended up here. It's been a tough and long road, but we're here now. It's been a good journey."

Under Davison's measured approach, Fury steadily lost weight and moved closer to a return. By the summer of 2018, he was ready to compete again. He stopped Sefer Seferi in his comeback bout before earning a decision victory over Francesco Pianeta.

Those fights set up a considerably greater challenge against WBC heavyweight champion Wilder in December 2018. Fury had shed about ten stone by the time he entered his first meeting with the American, completing a remarkable physical turnaround from his previous weight.

The comeback nearly produced another world title immediately. Fury survived two knockdowns against Wilder, including a dramatic fall in the 12th round, but the judges ultimately scored the contest a draw.

For the rematch, Fury made another major change. He parted ways with Davison and entered the second Wilder fight with a different strategy, taking the contest to the hard-hitting champion rather than allowing him to dictate proceedings.

His preparation had changed as well. Camp manager Timothy Allcock said Fury had become more disciplined about his food after struggling to follow the nutritional plan during his previous camp. He said:

"We definitely had to rope in the food. Tyson never really stuck to the diet plan we gave him last time. He was always nipping out and eating fast food outside the camp — and all that has changed now."

As a result, by the time of the rematch, Fury weighed 273 pounds, or 19.5 stone. And once the opening bell sounded, his aggressive approach paid off.

He dropped Wilder twice and controlled the fight until the American's corner threw in the towel during the seventh round, making Fury a heavyweight world champion once again.

The scale of that journey, from approaching 400 pounds while battling depression to returning to the top of heavyweight boxing, drew widespread attention beyond the sport. Fury's story even led to invitations to meet President Donald Trump at the White House and Pope Francis at the Vatican.

It also resonated across social media, where people reflected on both the physical change and the circumstances surrounding it. One person summed up the scale of the turnaround, saying, "Madness...Anything is possible!"

For others, the most striking part was remembering how difficult the earliest stages of Fury's comeback had appeared. One person shared, "I remember watching a video when he was first getting back into it and he could barely run a mile."

Another commenter focused on the mental health struggle Fury had described, writing, "I ve seen him explaining depression he went through in a documentary. He was not alone to face it, but the recovery is fantastic at this age. Example for life [sic]!!"

His comeback even changed the minds of some who had not previously supported him. One person commented, "I've never been his biggest fan but I have to say what a true legend...he's turned my opinion of him totally around. Awesome man hats off to you sir [sic]."

Another person shared a similarly enthusiastic reaction, typing, "Woow you are truely an inspirations for millions and millions. Respect man #legend [sic]."

Fury's route back to a heavyweight title unfolded through changes in several parts of his life, from cutting out the drinking and overeating he had described to altering his training and rebuilding his career one fight at a time.

The difference between where that process began and where it eventually took him was visible not only in his results inside the ring but also in his dramatic physical transformation. The photos documenting that change can be found below.

Tyson Fury's Striking Transformation

If you or someone you know is considering suicide, please contact the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 1-800-273-TALK (8255), text "help” to the Crisis Text Line at 741-741, or go to suicidepreventionlifeline.org.