Tyson Fury claims $250,000 raised through Thailand tussle with Mariusz Wach
Tyson Fury has said that he has raised more than $250,000 for charity in ticket sales for his fight with Mariusz Wach in Pattaya, Thailand, next week.
The former heavyweight champion surprised many when it was announced that he would be facing the 46-year-old Wach in a Muay Thai arena that only seats 2,000 fans. The bout will serve as a warmup for Fury’s long overdue fight with domestic rival Anthony Joshua later this year. However, for Fury this is much more than just a means to shake off the ring rust. The 36-year-old returned to action in April with a dominant points victory over Arslanbek Makhmudov after more than a year out of the ring. He spent the majority of that camp training in Pattaya, where he says he developed a strong connection with the community.
For anyone that has ever visited one of the many islands or cities in Thailand it’s easy to understand why Fury has found a fondness for the country. It offers beautiful mountains to climb, crystal clear oceans to swim, and a Muay Thai boxing gym on nearly every corner, all with the sun beaming down on your back. But what truly makes Thailand so special is the people. Kind and respectful, and often with far less than us in the West, but far more content.
These experiences have undoubtedly led to Fury deciding to give something back to a community that has welcomed him. In an interview with GoldStar Promotions, Fury discussed why he has decided to raise funds for the Father Ray Foundation, a charity that supports underprivileged children across Thailand.
“Having come out here and spent so much time in Thailand, I’ve seen a lot of the kids and homeless people and things on the street,” explained Fury. “I wanted to find an organisation, a charitable organization, to donate the ticket money to for this fight. But I didn't just want to go and say, ‘There you go, there's something.’ I wanted to go visit and find out the best one.
“So I did a bit of research on that and one came up, it's a charity called the Father Ray Foundation. It's been going for over 40 years. There was a priest here and he’s dead now, God rest his soul, but he did amazing things for thousands of children in the area. And where he took in disadvantaged, disprivileged and disabled children, he looked after them, he fed them, he clothed them, he educated them.”
Fury said a visit to the Foundation convinced him it was the right cause to support.
“We organized an event to go down and see these kids and meet the people who're responsible for this volunteer work, for the great job they do. So when I went there, they showed me around and I just thought, I fell in love with the facility. What they do for these children who would never have any hope in life. They'd be on the street somewhere, disabled or whatever they might be. “Whatever problems they've got, starving or even some of them are able-bodied kids. But just no one looks after them, nobody loves them.
“So to go to these places, and this is just a phenomenal job,” Fury continued. “All these people are like priests and nuns and volunteers, and 90 per cent of the money that they get is from donations. So there's only 10 per cent or so that comes from government funding. So without people like myself and others, many other people, there'd be no such thing as these things and no safe havens for children. It's a very bad world out there and if I can do a little bit to help, well that's fantastic, because without being clever or arrogant, I think we've raised $250,000 for the tickets.”
The fight will take place at the Max Muaythai Stadium, a venue usually reserved for local Muay Thai shows rather than one of the most recognizable names in the sport.
“There's only 1,500 tickets available,” said Fury. “They sold out within three minutes, and we've raised $250,000 for these children. Now for me, it's great, it's a lot of money. I'd put it in my bank and probably never see daylight again, but for these children, $250,000 here may as well be $25 million.”
Fury has insisted that he will not take a penny for the fight.
“100 per cent, it's an opportunity to give back, and I want to do stuff that ain't been done before,” he said. “When's the last time the world heavyweight champion, one of the most famous sports people on earth, is going to fight in a 1,500-seat arena around the corner here from a local gym? When's the last time someone actually did that? People say, ‘Oh, it's a money grab.’ How can it be a money grab if I'm not getting fornicating paid for it?”
Daniel Baer (15-1-1) 
Simon Ibekwe (6-0)
Max Muay Thai Stadium, Pattaya
24th July