Sport

Tyson Fury v Dillian Whyte: SugarHill Steward on bond with heavyweight world champion

Heavyweight champion Tyson Fury and his trainer SugarHill Steward share an understanding that goes beyond boxer and coach.

Steward has turned Briton Fury, who has been open about his mental health challenges, into an aggressive puncher in the two years that they have worked together.

Under the American's guidance, Fury dispatched knockout artist Deontay Wilder in back-to-back world title fights.

And outside the ropes - where the mind can get stuck in the past or lost in what might happen in the future - Steward has also become attuned to Fury's mental health needs.

"We don't have to talk about it. We just feel it in each other," Steward tells BBC Sport.

"If you're in a relationship with somebody, or if you have kids - parents know when their kids are not feeling well because they're watching them and they're trying to understand them. It's the same for me and Tyson.

"I'm watching him, trying to understand him. And he's watching me, trying to understand me - so we can help fill each other's many ups and downs if you want to call them ups and downs.

"I just allow Tyson to be himself and it's the same for me - I'm being myself. So me and him are very comfortable in our situation - and in any situation - because we feed off of each other.

"We have that smooth balance like caramel and chocolate. We help each other out - not knowing that we're helping each other out.

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