Ronnie O’Sullivan says he’s like Tyson Fury as snooker legend claims he’s ‘never ducked anyone’ in subtle swipe of other stars

Ronnie O'Sullivan sees himself as similar to Tyson Fury as both have 'never ducked anyone' in their glittering careers.

Boxers are often accused of cherry-picking their opponents, however, Fury has taken on the likes of Wladimir Klitschko and Deontay Wilder on his way to becoming heavyweight world champion on two separate occasions.

The snooker star, who's been world champion on six occasions, considers the 'Gypsy King' to be the standard-bearer when it comes to taking any opponent on and believes this is where the two are similar.

“I'd like to think I'm in a sport where I'm not ducking people. I've played the best at their best, they've played me at my best," O'Sullivan said.

“It's one of them sports, a bit like golf and tennis, where you're forced to play the opponent.

“Some other sports they don't test themselves against the best for whatever reason. Listen, I like to think I've taken on all comers in my career.

“There's a few sports like that, not just Formula One. In boxing you get someone like [Tyson] Fury who fights anyone, then you get other fighters who refuse to fight certain fighters.

“I like to think I'm a Fury, never ducked anyone, never ducked a challenge, picked myself off the floor and come out fighting even when I've not felt like fighting.

“You see a lot of boxers fighting people when they're past their best or come up with excuses on why the fight can't happen," he added. "You lose respect for them type of people.

“Whereas your Mexicans, your all-time greats, Marvin Haglers, Sugar Ray Leonards, Lennox Lewis, they're all-time greats because they fought the best when they were at their best."

'The Rocket' is currently competing at the 2021 UK Snooker Championship in York where he's through to the quarter-finals.

Meanwhile, Fury is looking to find an opponent for his next bout, expected to happen in February 2022 after beating Wilder in October.