Tyson Fury announced his immediate retirement from boxing.
The announcement comes just two days after Eddie Hearn revealed that Wembley had been booked for Fury to fight Anthony Joshua in the summer.
This is not the first time Fury has announced his retirement, as in April 2022, after defeating Dillian Whyte, the Brit said he would be hanging up his gloves.
The 36-year-old returned after six months to take on Derek Chisora in a three-way clash at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium.
“I would like to announce my retirement from boxing,” Fury said video posting on Instagram.
“It’s been a blast. I’ve loved every minute of it and I’m going to finish it. Dick Turpin wore a mask.”
Fury’s promoter Frank Warren said Sky Sports“Good luck to him, God bless him. I’m excited for him. I’ve been saying since his last fight, whatever he chooses, I support him 100 percent.
“He’s done incredible things for British boxing, world boxing. He’s had some of the most exciting fights, certainly in the second coming, they’ve all been exciting fights.
“I’m delighted for him. I hope he and his family enjoy the fruits of his labor.”
Last week, Joshua, who hasn’t fought since being knocked out by Daniel Dubois in September, posted a picture of Fury on Instagram with the caption, “looking for this guy.”
Eddie Hern said Matchroom: that Fury’s decision to retire is “disappointing for British fight fans” but has “doubts” his career is over and hopes the Joshua-Fury fight can still happen.
When asked if the Joshua fight could tempt Fury out of retirement, Warren said:
Fury was beaten by unanimous decision in December rematch with Alexander Usik.
He speculated whether I would fight again after the fight, saying: “I can do it, I can not.
Fury is a two-time world heavyweight champion, winning his first title in 2015 by defeating Wladimir Klitschko.
After a three-year hiatus, he returned to the ring and defeated Deontay Wilder in their second fight in 2020 to become the WBC champion, before defending his title against Wilder again in 2021 and then Dillian Whyte and Derek Chisora in 2022.
He overcame a major scare against Francis Ngannou in 2023 before losing twice to Usyk last year.
Nelson: Fury is the “boy who cried wolf”
Sky Sports Boxing’s Johnny Nelson.
“The guy who cried wolf, and maybe today Tyson believes that’s what’s coming from his heart and soul. He’ll listen to the comments, but because he’s done it before, and you wonder what? put on the table now, why are you doing it right now?
“As long as that fight with AJ is out there, I don’t believe it. Do you think Tyson quit today, but tomorrow is a different story.” :
“So if you listen to Frank and Eddie, it just reminds me of parents when you’re a little kid and you’re like, ‘You’re leaving the house, I’m running away,’ and your mom and dad are like, ‘Hey, I’m running away.’ yes then go ahead because they know they don’t deal with you.
“So maybe you know what Frank really thinks. “You know what? It’s him today. I’ll go with you, but the door is still open.”
“I just don’t believe it because there is still a very profitable opportunity for him with Anthony Joshua.”
Sky Sports News reporter Ben Ransom.
“Very secretive and typical Tyson Fury. It’s not the first time we’ve heard him announce his retirement. Rewind the clock to 2022 after he just beat Dillian Whyte and he said that that’s it, he’s done and ready to swim off into the sunset.
“And then he got lured back into, you could say, fighting Derek Chisora, and eventually that led him down the road to being able to become the undisputed heavyweight king.
“So I think we can take it with a little pinch of salt, just given the previous one.
“I think the cryptic message of Dick Turpin wearing the mask is the part that might make me think there’s more going on than he’s letting slip at the moment.”
Fury’s boxing legacy
Sky Sports’ John Dennen.
“Tyson Fury has a legacy in the sport. He has won all the major titles in the division. He upset Wladimir Klitschko, a former champion, back in 2015 when he won the unification titles.
“He then completed an extraordinary comeback when he returned to the sport after more than two years of being inactive, piling on the weight and struggling with mental health.
“Fury had a controversial draw with Deontay Wilder in 2018, memorably rising from a heavy knockdown. He then became the WBC world champion when he defeated Wilder in a rematch, and the pair completed their trilogy with one of the most exciting heavyweight fights of all time.
“But there are holes in his resume. He’s never held all four major titles at the same time. His bid for the undisputed heavyweight championship of the world ended in a loss to Usyk in his second fight, which means Usyk will be considered the best heavyweight of this era.
“He’s also never boxed his great British rival, Anthony Joshua. But maybe that fight could tempt Fury out of retirement. He’s retired, of course, and he hasn’t retired before…”