'You're just praying': Tyson Fury opens up on newborn daughter's intensive care stay

'You're just praying, just hoping': Tyson Fury on his new-born daughter's early health issues

Boxing superstar Tyson Fury has said he was “just praying” for his newborn daughter after she spent time in intensive care and was put on a ventilator, following her birth last month.

One-month-old Athena suffered health complications after she was born on August 8.

Fury revealed around three weeks ago that his daughter had been discharged from hospital and he told ITV News on Wednesday she is “doing very well” and has “made a full recovery".

“[It] probably took a couple of years off my life, the amount of stress I was under,” he said.

“But it's a part of life I suppose. And, you know, there's going to be ups and downs in our lives and it's about not giving up and always believing that you're going to get the best out of it.

“For all the people out there that have got kids in hospital, then you've got to be optimistic and be strong for your partner or whoever you're with and things will get better eventually."

Fury spoke ahead of his huge rematch with Deontay Wilder in October, more than 18 months after he knocked out the American in February last year.

He told ITV News training for the big fight did nothing to help what was an agonising wait on his daughter’s wellbeing.

“You’re just praying, just hoping that things are going to be OK,” he said.

“And you're hoping for better times and that's all you can do at that moment.”

He added that she is a “little fighter… just like me.”

Asked if his passion for boxing had diminished at all over the years, Fury said he intends to keep going for as long as he can and that he does "really love it".

"Nothing else for me, that's the only thing that I like to do," he said.

"I've tried everything, literally everything, and I don't take interest in anything else. So when you're good at something, keep doing it."

'I believe in just enjoying every single moment'

Speaking in Morecambe, where he lives, the 33-year-old said he feels relaxed ahead of any of his fights and just wants to enjoy life where he can.

"I'm not nervous because I know that I can only do my best and whether it's going to be good enough or bad enough on the night only time will tell," he said.

"And I believe in just enjoying every single moment, even now I'm doing a press conference here in my own town and I've got the beach, 30 degrees outside. It's beautiful.

"I won't want to be anywhere else right now because I'm enjoying this moment."

While Fury is preparing for the Wilder fight in the United States, his thoughts are solely on the upcoming fight.

But asked about his thoughts on Anthony Joshua, who many in the boxing world expect him to fight in the near future, Fury did not pull any punches.

“I just think he's a fraud. I think he's a plastic fake character,” he said.

“I don’t like him. I’d punch his face right in if he was here.”