Why is Tyson Fury called the Gypsy King? Nickname explained ahead of Dillian Whyte bout

Tyson Fury will take on Dillian Whyte at Wembley Stadium on Saturday evening hoping to retain his WBC and The Ring heavyweight belts which he won off Deontay WIlder in February 2020. The 33-year-old Fury fights in the UK for the first time since 2018 this weekend in what is a homecoming bout for the self-styled 'Gypsy King'.

Fury, 33, was born in Wythenshawe, Greater Manchester in 1988, growing up as part of a fighting family before pursuing a career of his own in the sport. He won gold in the 2008 English National Championships as an amateur as well as silver in the European Junior Championships representing Ireland.

He turned professional in 2008 and has a record of 31-1-0, his only draw coming against Deontay Wilder in the first leg of their epic trilogy. He has had a much storied career, becoming world heavyweight champion in 2015 before a well documented battle with mental health took him away from the sport until his 2018 comeback - throughout he has developed his 'Gypsy King' moniker.

ALSO READ: Tyson Fury addresses Old Trafford fight dream ahead of Dillian Whyte blockbuster

It all stems from his father, John Fury, who competed in the 1980's under the tag of 'Gypsy - initially as a bare-knuckle boxer before turning pro, finishing his professional career with a record of 8-4-1. John Fury came from a long-line of bare-knuckle fighters, owing to his routes as an Irish traveller, which he referenced by styling himself as 'Gypsy'.

For Tyson Fury, long-distant relative include bare-knuckle boxers Uriah Burton and Bartley Gorman, both of whom were considered to be the 'King of the Gypsies' - hence Fury's own tag as the 'Gypsy King'. It's not the only name Fury has fought under, however, as he has also styled