Tyson Fury never paid the £1million he owed Piers Morgan after losing a big bet over his boxing career. However, The Gypsy King kept his riches along with his dignity after an unexpected turn of events.
Morgan, 59, staked the seven-figure sum after Fury, 35, claimed he had retired following his 2022 win over Dillian Whyte. The TV host bet the heavyweight star would not stay retired for good, and Fury did indeed go on to continue his career, facing Derek Chisora in a trilogy clash just eight months later.
The Mancunian of course stood to make far more than £1m in future fight earnings by not hanging up his gloves. However, it was Morgan who ultimately took the high road.
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"No, I let him off," replied the former Britain's Got Talent judge when asked about the wager during a recent appearance on Simon Jordan's Up Front podcast. "It was a bit of fun. . .I love Tyson Fury!
"I think he's a really interesting, thoughtful character. [He's] very self-aware, very honest about stuff. I don't think his behaviour recently has been that bad compared with his crazy period, which he came through."
Jordan and Morgan were discussing Fury's controversial reaction in the wake of his split-decision defeat to Oleksandr Usyk in May. The Gypsy King - who at the time agreed to pay Morgan his £1m in coins - lost his undefeated record in sensational fashion, though the majority of fight fans appeared to agree Usyk was a deserved victor.
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One of Fury's contentious comments came when he suggested Usyk swung the judges' scorecards due to the fact Ukraine continues to be invaded by Russia. It was the longest in a list of outlandish statements by the heavyweight veteran, who will face Usyk again in December.
"I'm always a bit forgiving of boxers, especially when they're being interviewed after a fight like that," Morgan continued. "One of the greatest fights I've ever watched, Usyk an absolute warrior. And when Tyson said the thing about, 'Well, his country's at war, of course he's gonna get [the win].' I knew he would regret saying that, and he hasn't repeated it.
"His father shouldn't be headbutting people, and that's wrong. But Mike Tyson is someone I've interviewed six, seven times - I did his podcast. Amazingly thoughtful, interesting interview. And with Tyson, you can pick out moments in his career [to] paint the picture of an animal!"
Morgan then went on to highlight his respect for "good friend" Lennox Lewis, who supposedly beat him in 39 of the 40 chess matches they'd contested. The point served to highlight the intelligence of fighters, whose public reputations are often far removed from their true characters.
Jordan, 56, took the opposite view to his guest and suggested he "would have made [Fury] pay" up the full £1m.