Tyson Fury's battle with depression 'the hardest of my life'

Troubled British boxer Tyson Fury. Photo / Getty Images.

Tyson Fury has labelled his battle with depression as "the hardest fight of my life" but insists he has turned a corner as he prepares to launch his comeback later this year.

Fury, the former unified world heavyweight champion, last year surrendered the WBA and WBO titles he won from Wladimir Klitschko in one of boxing's great upsets in a bid to conquer his personal demons.

Earlier this week he announced plans to return to the ring on May 13 - although he remains suspended by the British Boxing Board of Control, putting a potential roadblock on any comeback - and on Friday followed it up by speaking about his condition.

He wrote on Twitter: "I've moved on from the dark & scary place I've been living & if I can beat depression then I can beat anything! The hardest fight of my life!

"I'm starting a fresh start, letting go of the past & concentrating on the future, got to keep moving forwards, #startingfromthebottom."

I've moved on from the dark &scary place I've been living & if I can beat depression then I can beat anything!
The hardest fight of my life!

— TYSON FURY (@Tyson_Fury) March 10, 2017

I'm starting a fresh start, letting go of the past & concentrating on the future, got to keep moving forwards,#startingfromthebottom.😍😍😍

— TYSON FURY (@Tyson_Fury) March 10, 2017

The mercurial 28-year-old, who has a perfect 25-0 record with 18 wins coming by knockout, also candidly revealed he has piled on the pounds in his absence from the ring.

He added: "Talk about being a fat man, I'm 25stones or 350lbs, but getting the weight off has never been a problem! Ask (his trainer) @peterfury we done it 24 times."

Talk about being a fat man, I'm 25stones or 350lbs, but getting the weight off has never been a problem! Ask @peterfury we done it 24 times.

— TYSON FURY (@Tyson_Fury) March 10, 2017

In October the British Boxing Board of Control suspended Fury's boxing licence "pending further investigation into anti-doping and medical issues", a matter which is yet to be concluded and which will prevent any comeback taking place until it is.

That development came the day after he gave up his world titles. Fury also captured the IBF crown when he outpointed Klitschko in November 2015 - his last bout - but he was stripped of the belt a month later after announcing plans to rematch the Ukrainian instead of facing mandatory challenger Vyacheslav Glazkov.