Tyson Fury vs Wladimir Klitschko: New heavyweight champion punched himself in the face in previous fight

The infamous moment came during the fourth round of Fury’s fourth professional bout against Lee Swaby in March 2009

Tyson Fury punches himself in the face during a bout against Lee Swaby in 2009. (YouTube)

Tyson Fury produced one of the major upsets in British boxing’s history last night by defeating Wladimir Klitschko.

The unfavoured Manchester-based fighter emerged from Dusseldorf’s Espirit Arena with a clear points victory, following a measured performance against an opponent who had not experienced defeat for a decade.

Fury is predictably garnering a lot of media attention and winning many new fans. Those unacquainted with the charismatic fighter may not, however, know that the current WBA, WBO, IBF, IBO and The Ring world heavyweight champion once, while in the ring, accidentally punched himself in the face.

The infamous moment came during the fourth round of Fury’s fourth professional bout against Lee Swaby in March 2009.

On what was a relatively routine evening’s work for the traveller, against an opponent who was 23-22-2 at the time, he decided to make things slightly harder for himself by smashing one of his own uppercuts into his face.

Fury, fortunately, went on to send Swaby to the canvas in the same round.