Baby girl’s near-death inspired Tyson Fury after it all ‘kicked off’ in hospital
Tyson Fury has revealed how watching his daughter fight for her life inspired him to victory over Deontay Wilder in November 2021.
Fury got the better of Wilder in their trilogy fight in Las Vegas after an 11 round slugfest. But if it weren't for the harrowing experience the Gypsy King went through when his precious daughter nearly died, the fight may of had a different outcome.
Just month's before the heavyweight clash, Fury and partner Paris' daughter Athena was born prematurely at the Royal Lancaster Infirmary. Fury wasn't bothered to begin with as everything seemed perfect as he held his newborn for the first time.
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However, things took a turn for the worst swiftly after when nurses grabbed Athena from the WBC Champion because her heart was beating fast, engulfing the room in panic.
Speaking about the harrowing ordeal, Fury explained in an extract from his book, Gloves Off, shared by The Sun: "At first everything went well with the birth. I held my new daughter for the first time, and everything was perfect.
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"There had been no signs of anything being wrong during the pregnancy. Then the midwife plucked her out of my arms and within minutes everything was kicking off.
"Apparently her heart was beating too quickly, and at first I didn’t think anything of it. Then everybody around us seemed to be panicking."
Fury could only look on helplessly as Athena's heart rate fluctuated while doctors struggled to get it down to around 140bpm. And he knew the consequences would be fatal if they weren't able to do so.
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As Athena lay there with tubes sticking out of her, Fury admitted he felt helpless. But her chances of survival improved when she was taken to the Alder Hey Children’s Hospital in Liverpool, where staff managed to stabilise her heart.
However, Fury wasn't taking any chances and stayed in the Ronald McDonald House, an accommodation for parents attached to the hospital, while his daughter battled for her life close by, as Paris also recovered.
But while Athena sat in an incubator, Fury was subconsciously aware that he needed to start training for his fight with Wilder that was looming on the horizon.
And when Athena stabilised and was able to come out of the incubator, Fury decided to start jogging around the hospital with his dad John in tow to get back in shape. Running wasn't easy for Fury who had also recently recovered from Covid.
And just as he was getting back into his groove, completing three miles, he got the worst call of his life when Paris screamed down his phone that Athena had lost her life in her arms. But thankfully it was a false alarm as when he raced back to the ward, doctors managed to resuscitate Athena.
After three worrying weeks, Athena was finally allowed home as doctors managed to stabilise her condition, where she got to meet siblings Venezuela, Prince John James, Prince Tyson Fury II, Valencia Amber and Prince Adonis Amaziah. But now Athena was doing well, Fury put all his energy into the fight that was around the corner against the Bronze Bomber.
Using the strength he gauged from watching Athena beat the odds and stay alive, Fury delivered the performance of his career to dismantle Wilder. And he gives Athena all the credit for giving him the power to crush his adversary.
He added: "I would turn her battle into fuel. And I did. I beat Wilder with an eleventh round knockout – in one of the most epic fights of all time. It was Athena’s successful battle which inspired me to win mine.”
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