Back to retirement: Tyson Fury has announced the end of his career
British boxer Tyson Fury said that he will not step into the ring again. Two lost fights to Alexander Usik will remain the only defeats in his career. Why leaves the 36-year-old former world champion, what he will be remembered by boxing fans and whether we can expect that he will change his mind again - in the material "Izvestia".
What exactly said Tyson Fury
Gypsy King, as he was nicknamed in the boxing world, recorded a video message in social networks. There he spoke out succinctly, but blurted out:
"Hi everyone, this will be short and to the point: I would like to announce my retirement from boxing. It's been amazing, I've enjoyed every minute of this journey, but this is where I end. Dick Turpin wore a mask. Thank you all for being there for me!" - Fury said.
Tyson Fury
In his address, the boxer used an English proverb: in the 1700s, Dick Turpin was a famous robber from Essex, he attacked stagecoaches, hiding his face behind a mask. People use this expression when they think they have been cheated or robbed.
The proverb was apparently addressed to the judges who gave the win to Alexander Usik in his recent fight with Fury. Tyson himself and his team disagreed with the decision, calling it a robbery. Although, according to most fans, including British fans, Usik did win both fights, with the second more confidently than the first.
"We are waiting in the ring in six months."
Interestingly, few have taken Fury's statement seriously so far. While the world media summarize the results of his great career, fans are wondering when he will return to the ring. And the most popular guess is in six months.
The fact is that Fury has already announced the end of his career more than once. For the first time he did it back in 2016, when the whole world was waiting for his rematch with Wladimir Klitschko. The boxers held several press conferences, the promotion of the fight was in full swing, and then Fury decided to leave boxing, citing depression and lack of motivation.
He returned two and a half years later - in June 2018, for a confrontation with Deontay Wilder. Before him, Tyson had two warm-up fights, and then he and Deontay arranged a trilogy. The first of the fights ended in a draw, although Fury was knocked down twice, and then the Briton won twice and returned to the top of world boxing.
One more time Fury announced the end of his career in 2022 after the fight with Dillian Whyte, saying goodbye to the fans right in the ring. But even after that, there were several challenges that made him change his mind: a money and easy fight with former UFC champion Francis Ngannou, and then a real challenge in the form of a world title fight with Alexander Usik. Tyson has earned over $100 million for those three fights.
Tyson Fury's fight with Alexander Usik
That's why, for now, fans don't really believe that Fury is really leaving. Money has a way of running out. And even if it doesn't run out, you can never have too much of it.
What Fury could come back for
There is one fight missing from Tyson's record that could have easily been organized and broken all the fee records. It's a bout with another English former world champion whose fan base numbers in the tens of millions: that of Anthony Joshua. Now in social networks is very popular opinion that Fury's announcement of the end of his career is an attempt to bargain himself better terms, as the starting allegedly seemed insufficiently favorable to Tyson.
The Fury-Joshua fight has been on the table for years, it has been discussed many times, but the two giants in the promotional business - Frank Warren, who handles Fury's business, and Eddie Hearn (Joshua) - have failed to reach an agreement. But now times have changed, with the Saudis entering the market, who are always happy to shell out a few times more than is customary in the UK and US.
Anthony Joshua
So if Fury does come back, it will probably only be for a fight with Joshua. And the probability of such a fight is well above zero. By the way, Frank Warren also does not rule out Fury's return.
"It's Tyson's decision, he had two hardest fights, he hasn't seen his family for a long time. I will not convince him of anything. Will he come back? I wouldn't rule it out," the promoter stated.
What if Fury is not kidding
In that case, it remains to congratulate him on a great career and remember what exactly made it so. Tyson has traveled a path that only a few can do: at different times he held all the heavyweight championship belts, defeated great rivals: Wladimir Klitschko and Deontay Wilder (twice). And what is not less important, he defeated absolutely all the near-tops he boxed with: White, Chisora (three times), Wallin, Cunningham and a number of other contenders who got in his way.
Tyson lost only to Alexander Usik, the greatest heavyweight of his time. And he lost in very equal fights. The first one ended in a split decision, and there are many experts around the world who would say that Fury deserved to win that fight more.
Tyson Fury's fight with Alexander Usik
Another important part of Fury's legacy is what he was like outside the ring. He was anything but boring. And he still is today. Tyson allowed himself thrash-talk and eccentric antics, but never crossed the line. Shows, dancing and songs in the ring, jokes on the edge of the foul - yes, insults to family and friends - no. Fury is a kind guy who always respected his opponents. And for that he will be remembered and respected no less than for his titles and the level of boxing he showed in the ring.
But somehow I want to believe that Fury will come back. He's only 36 years old, which is no age at all for a heavyweight. A fight with Anthony Joshua in the summer of 2025 and then a rematch six months later is a scenario that is even more realistic than Tyson Fury's retirement.
