ICONIC When Tyson Fury told the famous ‘sauna story’ to Wladimir Klitschko’s face before their fight

Tyson Fury put in years of groundwork that led to him dethroning Wladimir Klitschko in 2015.

The Brit turned pro in 2008 and developed his skills for seven years before finally conquering the world.

However, in that time he was also laying the foundations mentally, as well as physically.

SKY SPORTS

Klitschko and Fury sat down together for Sky’s ‘Gloves Are Off’ programme

During his time as heavyweight king, long-reigning champion Klitschko often recruited the world’s top prospects for sparring.

This was his chance to scope out potential future opponents and get a handle on how he’d deal with them should they ever meet in future.

With Fury though, it appears this process backfired and led to his downfall in Dusseldorf.

When the pair met on Sky Sports’ ‘Gloves Are Off’, the Brit employed mind games of his own.

GETTY

Fury played mental games with Klitschko throughout the build-up to their fight

Fury recalled a story: “I’m at his training camp, we’re in the sauna, about ten guys in the sauna.

“And it came down to me and Wlad in the sauna. Do you remember this Wladimir, at all?

“It gets down to him and I’m over the other side. I’ve only had 12 or 13 fights, but still, in my mind I was mentally in a competition with him.

“He can say what he wants, he can deny it, whatever.

GETTY IMAGES

Fury outboxed Klitschko and won on points

“I was prepared to die in that sauna before I got out. I stayed in for like 40 minutes.”

Klitschko replied: “I honestly don’t know what you’re talking about.

“I don’t remember exactly that moment, but I believe in the sauna people were walking in naked, so…”

Host Johnny Nelson then asked Furywho left the sauna first, and the ‘Gypsy King’ proudly answered: “He did. He got out first. I thought, ‘Mental victory.'”

The champion hit back: “That you built in your own world, that didn’t exist.”

To which the challenger calmly responded: “We both know it did exist.”

Klitschko said once more: “I don’t know what you’re talking about.”

But Fury kept his cool and concluded: “You can say you don’t know what I’m talking about, but I know and you know it did exist.”