Tyson Fury's move to island 'inspires young boxers'

Tyson Fury's move to the Isle of Man is "inspiring" for children and young people getting into boxing, a Manx fighter has said.

During Fury's comeback fight, after a 16-month retirement, there was a nod to his new home, with "boxing out of the Isle of Man" announced as he made his ring walk.

Despite spending time recently in Thailand training, the two-time world heavyweight champion and his wife and seven children, who have spent the last two decades in Morecambe, Lancashire, have been spotted across the island.

Manx boxer Jade "the Grenade" Burden said Fury's move "raises the island's platform," adding: "I think we should be proud to have him here - he's one of our own now."

"The Isle of Man is not really renowned for its boxing scene," Burden said.

"So I think it's going to be inspiring for young kids, and anyone who is into boxing with him being over here as a two-time heavyweight world champion - it's nothing short of inspiring what he has done, and what he has bounced back from."

Having met him several times, Burden said: "He's a really lovely, down-to-earth guy."

Burden, whose fight in Portsmouth for the Commonwealth Silver Super Featherweight Title was postponed last minute, had received a good luck message from Fury ahead of the bout.

"It put a big smile on my face," she said, but noted when she found out that fight was called off that if had "felt like I had been kicked in the stomach".

But "seeing all the support I have had from people back home, has just added extra fuel to the fire," she said.

The fight will be rescheduled in June, although the exact date has not been confirmed.

Fury has been spotted running in the Manx capital.

Local boxing fan Richard Horne met him one morning on his way to work as he was walking along Douglas Promenade.

He said it was "unreal" to meet Fury, adding: "I was shocked and it took a while to sink in, but I was so happy to see him."

"I bumped into him and asked for a photo, he had time for me, was asking me how I was and then continued running," he said.

"I have been to see him a few times, I go out and watch him boxing a lot, I got his book and stuff and it was a shock for me to meet him but he was nice, he gave me the time of day."

He described Fury moving to the island as a "breath of fresh air, you see him walking around, it's a quiet island so it's nice".

"It brings eyes to the island," he said, noting that the Isle of Man was often only considered as being a low tax jurisdiction or being famous for the TT races, "but stuff like this can only do well for the Isle of Man".

In December, Rachel Marsland from Terry's Tato's in Douglas, said she was "shocked" when Tyson and Paris Fury, along with their seven children, entered her jacket potato shop on Strand Street.

Marsland said: "I followed the boxing he has done in the past, and I follow Paris on social media, so it was her initially who I saw, but then I was very much like, 'oh my goodness Tyson is in my premises', it was quite exciting."

"It was Monday afternoon, and he asked how many spuds I had, I asked how many he needed, he said nine, and when I went to check there were nine left, you couldn't make it up," she said.

"He was a really good, down-to-earth guy," she said, adding: "I think it will be beneficial to the island if high profile people are here."

Adele Quinn said: "I don't know anything about the guy, but I think anybody moving to the Isle of Man is a positive thing."

Graham Worsley, who is originally for Morecambe, but now living on the island, said: "Tyson must be following me."

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