By: Sean Crose
UFC heavyweight contender Tom Aspinall will fight this weekend in London at UFC Fight Night 204. The 28-year-old Manchester-born will feature in the main event at the O2 Arena on Saturday when he takes on 33-year-old Alexander Volkov. It was certainly an intense moment, one that could mark the future for every man. Aspinall, however, exudes confidence, and some of that confidence seems to come from WBC and iconic heavyweight boxer Tyson Fury. “On Wednesday Media Day,” wrote Fighting MMA“Aspinall talked about how previous training sessions with heavyweight boxing king Tyson Fury have taken his career to the next level.”
Back when Fury was training for his 2015 heavyweight title fight with Wladimir Klitschko, a young Aspinall was the perfect partner of the man dubbed the Gypsy King. “I think Tyson Fury has helped me the most mentally,” the mixed martial artists said. “Obviously I have improved a lot. My skill set improved, definitely my boxing improved too. It has taken me a long way in terms of skill. But more than that mentally. If Tyson Fury ever watched it, “Thank you.” I never really got a chance to thank him for that. He completely changed my career and the outlook on what I have in fighting and fighting. ”
That is without a doubt the driving force behind Fury’s public and public struggle against mental illness. However, Aspinall saw something inspiring about his British counterpart even before Fury’s troubles began to accumulate publicly. “Without him, I wouldn’t be where I am now because my mentality has completely changed since I trained with him,” Aspinall continued of Fury. “It’s been quite a while now, I’m in my 20s, I’m not sure if I want to continue with this sport or sport or maybe stop fighting altogether. I didn’t know what I wanted to do and yes, he completely changed my view of things so I’m grateful. ”
Needless to say, Fury got the message. “I just wanted to wish my buddy Tom Aspinall all the best in his upcoming UFC heavyweight bout,” Fury said on a social media video Thursday. “Good luck, Tom. Do business, smack him in the face, get up there, my boy, all the way to the bank m —- rf —– g. “Fury himself has a fight in the UK to focus on. He is currently training under his Sugar Hill coach Steward as he prepares to face longtime contender Dillian Whyte on April 23.
