The former heavyweight champion claims he is on benefits after donating the £4m he earned from his bout with Wladimir Klitschko to his team and charity.
Boxer Tyson Fury says he has blown his fortune and is claiming benefits because he doesn’t think it’s right to profit from the sport.
The controversial fighter reportedly banked a £4million purse when he beat Wladimir Klitschko to be crowned world heavyweight champion in 2015.
The self-styled “Gypsy King” revelled in his reputation as the bad boy of the ring – once showing off a collection of luxury cars, including a Ferrari and Rolls-Royce.
A planned comeback fight against reigning champ Anthony Joshua later this year is expected to be a £100million money-spinner.
But 6ft 9in Fury – who will meet fans at an FSG and Goldstar Promotions “Evening with” night at Glasgow’s Radisson Blu Hotel on March 17 – has claimed he is broke and claiming dole money.
The 29-year-old said: “To be honest, I’m skint. I don’t have any money in the bank. I’m on the dole.
The ‘bad boy of boxing’ Tyson Fury with pal and former light-welterweight champ Ricky Hatton (right) (Image: Internet Unknown)
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“I’m on Jobseeker’s Allowance at the moment. I’m not winding you up – I’m being truthful. Seriously, I didn’t make any money out of boxing at all. Don’t feel sorry for me – it’s not a bad thing.
“I give my promotional team half of the money and I donate the other half to charity or give it to people in need because I don’t think people should make money out of punching other people in the face. I fight because I love to fight.
“I’ll continue boxing until I’m 50 – until I can’t box any more.
“I help a lot of people with my money from boxing. I create homes, take homeless people off the streets, I give it to children’s charities. You can’t take money with you.”
A person cannot claim Jobseeker’s Allowance if they – or a partner – have savings of more than £16,000.
Fury added: “Last time I was in Glasgow, to see the Billy Joe Saunders fight in 2016, I did a bit of a job for a friend and got £10,000. I went up and down Glasgow giving it to the homeless.
“I just said to them, ‘Remember the name Tyson Fury’ – and they do.
“Wherever I go, there’s always somebody willing to buy me a drink. That’s because I’m a generous man. When I’ve got money, I buy everyone drinks.
“What goes around comes around, I believe. A greedy man doesn’t enter the kingdom of heaven.
Fury once tried to become the ‘Gypsy King’ of this £1.5million castle in Moray (Image: Collect Unknown)
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“I’m in Glasgow on St Patrick’s Day and, if I get any donations from that night, the next day I’ll be up and down the streets of Glasgow again handing out money to the homeless.”
Last December, Fury was allowed to resume his career by UK Anti-Doping after being handed a back-dated two-year ban.
The Mancunian boxer was stripped of his WBA, WBO and IBF belts in 2016 after testing positive for cocaine.
Despite claiming to be broke, Fury is house-hunting in Scotland.
He said: “I have a soft spot for Scotland. I like the weather and the greenery and I get on with everybody. I like the people.
“I tried to buy a castle in Moray. I think it was called Ross Glen House. I could have bought it for about £1.5million.
“I didn’t care if it came with a title because I’m already the Gypsy King.
“I’m in the market now, looking at a place in Dumfries and Galloway. It’s a big manor hall with 25 acres of land.
“I think it’s on at £1.3million. A friend is going to buy it for me – he’s a multi-millionaire. People look after me.”
