Boxing star Tyson Fury reveals only phobia for the first time ahead of Francis Ngannou fight

Fury is one of the bravest boxers in the sport because of what he does in the ring - and what he's overcome off it.

Therefore, fans could be forgiven for thinking the 35-year-old isn't afraid of anything.

However, that isn't the case with Fury telling the Daily Mail that he's actually scared of worms.

And it's all because of his brother, who used to fill up his wellington boots with the slimy insects.

"I have a phobia of worms," he said.

"I am absolutely terrified of worms. It's because my little brother Shane used to fill my wellies up with worms.

"He used to pick out the biggest worms he could and fill adult size welly boots so when I stepped in them there would be worms.

"So, yeah I am absolutely terrified of worms. There you go!"

Fortunately for Fury, there won't be any worms around when he goes up against Ngannou in the Middle East.

While no belts are on the line, defeat would still be catastrophic for the heavyweight champion.

Fury hasn't lost a single fight in his career, with a draw against Deontay Wilder the only blot on his record.

The Gypsy King was written off by many when his weight ballooned to 28 stone a few years ago.

​But Fury has since turned everything around and is a man very much at the top of his game once again.

While many would love to see the Gypsy King go up against Oleksandr Usyk, some are still hoping he'll fight Anthony Joshua one day.

However, Fury has told the publication that's unlikely to ever happen.

"But, I told them in December, this is the final opportunity you guys are ever going to get to fight me so take it today or don’t," he said.

"And they didn’t. So, they’re out in the cold. Frozen."

Ngannou looks the part of a boxer due to his abs and muscles.

But Fury has no interest in ever getting himself into that sort of shape and insists he's 'proud' to be fat.

"I actually embrace being fat because my love handles separate me from the rest of the world, ever in history," he said.

"There's never been anyone like me and there never will be.

"That's what makes me so tough and that's what makes me, me.

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"If you said to me, 'Right Tyson, we will give you the opportunity to get rid of the fat on you and we will give you a full six pack,' I wouldn't take it because that's not me.

"I am fat now, I was fat as a baby and I will be fat on my death bed.

"We're all fat. Hughie is fat, Shane's fat, my dad's fat and even my mum's fat.

"I hope she's not watching this. But, we're a fat family.

"He trains every day, my brother Hughie, like unbelievable. He'll run, train, box. I am the same.

"Two-three times a day, in or out of camp but I've always been fat.

"Even when I got down to 17stone, like this, I still had love handles. It's my trademark for sure."