TYSON FURY gains a leg up on his heavyweight competition thanks to the help of strength and conditioning expert Kristian Blacklock.
The two first linked up in 2015, before Fury went on to shock and dethrone Wladimir Klitschko.
Since then, they have had five more world title fights, including two knockout wins over Deontay Wilder, 37.
Coach Blacklock’s gym is based in Ormskirk, a market town in West Lancashire, where Fury also resides.
The Gypsy King spends at least two days a week with Blacklock, sometimes as many as four.
And when the WBC champion first returns to camp, he has a two week fitness based drills before getting back to his boxing.
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It all starts with a thorough warm up but as Blacklock explained to the Daily Mail, it was not something Fury was ever used to.
Blacklock said: “Tyson used to be nightmare when it came to warming up. Tyson used to turn up and expect to train.
“When I started working with him in 2015 he said he had never warmed up properly before. He didn’t warm up at all.”
Fury, 34, has become a heavy-hitter in recent years since linking up with American trainer Sugarhill Steward.
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But with four knockouts in as many bouts, Blacklock can also be credited for conditioning Fury’s powerful legs.
He said: “Everyone looks at Tyson and doesn’t think he has strong legs. I think it’s because he has such long legs.
“But, he does loads of leg sessions. His legs are really strong and his quads are big but people just see the massive long legs.”
Fury is also not shy of revealing his favourite leg-based exercises.
Blacklock said: “Tyson swears by lunges. He gets a lot of sparring partners coming in, good young pros, and they often join in with the S&C.
“They hear Tyson swearing by lunges. He says when you have strong legs in the ring it makes a massive difference.”
Fury recently started training to fight Oleksandr Usyk, 36, in the heavyweight division’s first four-belt unification bout.
He does loads of leg sessions. His legs are really strong and his quads are big but people just see the massive long legs.”
Kristian Blacklock on Tyson Fury
But after talks broke down, Joe Joyce, 37, and Andy Ruiz Jr, 34, have been named as alternative opponents.
Fury drafted in ex-WBO champion Joseph Parker, 31, to help him train for Usyk and the two continue to push each other in the gym.
Blacklock revealed: “Joseph Parker can actually deadlift more than Tyson.
“If you look at their physiques, Tyson’s not got the best physique for deadlifting.
“He’s got really long legs. But Tyson can deadlift around 220kg. That’s proper deadlifts though.
“All the way to the floor and with a proper Olympic bar. This is a little bit higher and a little bit easier.
“‘For his length of leg to be able to do that is actually really impressive. Joe can actually lift a little bit more.
“Joe can actually lift 240/250kg. But, Joe is about five inches shorter so it’s a lot easier for him.”
Blacklock also likes to keep his sessions sports-specific, ensuring Fury does not overdo it in the gym.
He explained: “If you factor in warm-ups, cool-downs and stretching, you’re probably looking at an hour and a half. Maximum.
“I don’t see any point in doing longer than that. Once you get over a certain amount of training, I think it just become pointless.
“Boxing is 36 minutes for a start so it’s not a full-on endurance sport in the way that a marathon is.
“They are stopping every three minutes for a minute rest. It’s only the top fights that are 36 minutes as well.
“Others are six, eight or 10 round fights. So going out for an hour long run is pointless.”
Source: Boxing - thesun.co.uk
