Century clinches Tyson Fury’s “warts and all” autobiography

Penguin Random House imprint Century has snapped up boxing champion Tyson Fury’s “warts and all” autobiography.

Publishing director Ben Brusey acquired world rights in print, serial, digital and audio to Behind the Mask: My Autobiography from Rory Scarfe at The Blair Partnership. Fury will support publication with an extensive tour and a major publicity campaign around publication on 14th November and the book will be preceded by a four-part ITV documentary "Meet the Furys" this autumn.

The autobiography will see Fury open up about his family, career and struggles with mental health and alcohol and drug abuse leading to a suicide attempt. The boxer returned to the ring in 2018 after a three-year hiatus. In 2015 he became world heavyweight champion after defeating Wladimir Klitschko.

The synopsis explains: “The ‘People’s Champion’ speaks candidly about his life in and out of the ring –including his family, his upbringing, the highs and lows of his career and his mental health struggles and suicide attempt – documented fully in this book for the first time. Full of his trademark wit and electrifying personality, the book will thrill, surprise and inspire readers to overcome challenges in their own lives.”

Brusey said: “Sylvester Stallone said it best: ‘Tyson Fury is an amazing real-life champion’. And the story of Tyson Fury’s life and career is even more extraordinary than a Rocky film script. Tyson has become a British hero to so many, and his book reveals a side to him we’ve never seen before: brutally frank, funny and utterly inspiring about his mental health struggles. This will be one of the very biggest autobiographies of the year."

Fury added: “For the first time ever I’ve told my whole story, and revealed the real me, warts and all. I’ve spoken about the darkest moments of my life, when I came within seconds of ending everything in a Ferrari at 160mph. I’ve spoken about my upbringing, my family, my fights, my faith, my weight loss. And I’ve relived my battle with depression, drink and drugs.

“It’s a story about coming back from the brink, and how I changed my mind-set and attitude to life to do this. It’s a story that’s bigger than boxing. I hope it can help people out there to get help if they’re struggling with mental health problems. If I can comeback from these things, so can you.”