MANCHESTER -- Dark, gloomy and unwelcoming. Three words Tyson Fury probably would use to describe the life he's endured since his win over Wladimir Klitschko in 2015.
But his latest news conference in Manchester on Thursday saw a welcome return to form. Fury, admittedly a little late, entered the room to applause. Wearing a cheerful-looking shirt, he held a wide smile on his face. He took his seat, waited for his turn after the undercard fighters finished speaking, and proceeded to pour out his personality.
"I can have a hand behind my back and beat [Deontay] Wilder," Fury announced. Another outlandish remark, typical of the outgoing persona we've grown accustomed to in the past. He couldn't possibly beat the reigning WBC heavyweight world champion -- who has knocked out 39 of his 40 opponents -- with one hand, but the sheer confidence reinforced by the remarkable achievement of his accomplished in Dusseldorf does make you wonder.
Talk of fighting Wilder remains fantasy for now, but the announcement of Fury's comeback opponent is still in the works. Truth be told, no one's particularly bothered if it is the little-known 39-year-old Albanian cruiserweight Sefer Seferi, who was the rumoured opponent that circled the press room. There's just a huge satisfaction in watching a fellow human overcome mental adversity and return to doing what he loves. The fact he's an entertainer who is one of the most gifted boxers on the planet is just a bonus to the rest of us.
"Listen, Deontay Wilder played a part in it and I wanted to prove him wrong," Fury told ESPN regarding his return. "But the most driving thing that is driving me at the moment is the fact that I want to come back and return to boxing, and have a fight again, and that's what I'll do on June 9.
"I'm relishing it, enjoying it. It's what I do naturally. I thrive in these situations.
"I think June 9 will top Dusseldorf because to come back after everything I've been through, it's a massive achievement, and I'm looking forward to it. That's going to be my biggest night up to date."
Claiming that a fight against an unnamed opponent will be better than dethroning Klitschko -- one of the greatest heavyweights of all time -- in Germany to become world champion signifies just the severity of the journey Fury has been on over recent months. It's clearly been awful.
There's a still a long road to trudge down before Fury, 29, can fully reclaim his perch at the top of the boxing. Not every sporting comeback has a happy ending, and reaching the pinnacle of this business, where Fury found himself last time, is a long way off.
But unlike the past two and a bit years, Fury's attempted journey to get there will be an enjoyable watch if he sticks to the plan. In an ideal world, he's going to make serious money in serious fights, and spectators are going to be thoroughly entertained along the way. Hopefully he can navigate his route to the top once again and become a sporting role model after overcoming such personal struggles outside of the ring.
Welcome back, Tyson, and good luck.