What's in a name?
If nominative determinism is to be believed, then plenty. The idea that a person's name influences their path through life has been a topic of fascination for centuries.
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First named in 1994 by New Scientist, it was dubbed after studies on researchers with fitting surnames, such as a piece on urology by the duo of A.J. Splatt and D. Weedon.
Sport is no exception - and few quite know it like Tyson Fury, with both the boxer's given name and surname reflecting his passion for a life dedicated to the ring.
As The Gypsy King faces Oleksandr Usyk this month at Riyadh Season's Reignited on DAZN Pay-Per-View, DAZN takes a look at some other names that fit their sport to a tee.
Tyson Fury (Boxing)
There aren't many more that fit the bill like Fury, whose surname speaks to the power and strength of his pursuit, and his given name to one of the sport's all-time greats.
Named by his father John for the legendary Mike Tyson, the Morecambe-based fighter has followed in his namesake's footsteps with multiple heavyweight world titles.
His surname meanwhile means "extreme strength or violence in an action or a natural phenomenon" - though it actually has Irish roots and means "bushy eyebrows".
Usain Bolt (Athletics)
The fastest man in the world couldn't have been blessed with a better surname, with the sprinter from Jamaica becoming synonymous with speed and pace over his career.
Record-breaking runs at 100m, 200m and relay events over a succession of Olympic Games back it up - he has eight medals from Beijing 2008, London 2012 and Rio 2016.
Since then, Bolt has spun his name into a brand itself, and the athlete remains one of the sport's modern greats, fittingly living up to his title on and off the track circuit.
Marina Stepanova (Hurdler)
It might not work quite as neatly in its native pronunciation, but the Soviet Union athlete couldn't have had a better anglicised name to suit her profession if she tried.
Stepanova was a two-time world record holder in the 400m hurdles, and won gold at the 1986 European Games held in Stuttgart, West Germany, with her performances.
She broke her own record only months later, becoming the first woman to run the event in under 53 seconds, which was held until Sally Gunnell broke it in 1993.
Anna Smashnova (Tennis)
Another magnificent surname to suit the discipline, the Israeli tennis star had a fitting forehand to match across a fairly successful career as part of the WTA.
Although she never made it past the fourth round of a grand slam - she reached this stage at the French Open twice - she nevertheless secured a dozen titles over her career.
A peak singles ranking of No. 15 in 2003 marked the high-water mark of her career, and she ultimately retired from professional tennis during the 2007 season.
Will Power (Motorsport)
It might be less overt as a specific reference - plenty of sports require power of some kind, after all - but the Australian certainly lived up to the billing as a race car driver.
Power is a two-time IndyCar Championship king, triumphing in both 2014 and 2022, and has been a regular contender at the top fo the field across the decade around them too.
In-between, he claimed the 2018 Indianapolis 500, one of the biggest races in motorsport, ensuring further recognition in the history books for generations to come.
Tim Duncan (Basketball)
While not as overt as others, The Big Fundamental's name reflects his excellence in the core aspects of basketball, helping to build his reputation as one of the game's greats.
Duncan’s mastery of the game’s basics led him to five NBA championships with the San Antonio Spurs and a reputation that remains particularly impeccable on the court.
Additionally, Duncan represented Team USA at the Athens 2004 Olympic Games, where they unexpectedly fell in the semi-finals and had to settle for a bronze-medal finish.
Watch Usyk vs. Fury 2 on DAZN PPV - Buy Now
The Oleksandr Usyk/Tyson Fury rematch and full undercard is a DAZN Pay-Per-View (PPV) worldwide event and will cost £24.99 in the UK / $39.95 in the US. For prices in your region click here.
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