Fury announces retirement yet again, this time in wake of 2nd loss to Usyk
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Former lineal/unified heavyweight champion Tyson Fury announced is retirement from boxing on Monday, doing so in a video posted to Instagram.
Fury has announced his retirement on at least four other occasions over the past 12 years, typically using social media to do so.
The latest iteration came three weeks after he suffered his second straight close decision loss to Oleksandr Usyk in their heavyweight championship rematch on Dec. 21 in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. Usyk also outpointed Fury to unify the division and become the undisputed champion on May 18.
“Hi everybody. I’m gonna make this short and sweet,” Fury said while sitting behind the wheel of a parked car. “I’d like to announce my retirement from boxing. It’s been a blast. I’ve loved every single minute of it. And I’m gonna end with this — Dick Turpin wore a mask. God bless everybody. See you on the other side. Get up!”
Why Fury referenced Turpin, a notorious 18th century British thief, is unclear but in Britain the phrase is an expression used if somebody feels they have been robbed.
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Fury’s announcement also comes at the moment when it appeared that he would at long last next face British countryman and former two-time unified titleholder Anthony Joshua in a long-awaited showdown this summer. The fight would still be one of the biggest in boxing even though it would not be for a world title and they would both be coming off losses.
Joshua was brutally knocked out by Daniel Dubois in the fifth round challenging for the IBF title on Sept. 21. He has said he wants the fight next and Turki Alalshikh, who has spearheaded the Saudi Arabian government’s massive investment in boxing and paid Fury and Joshua nine figures for their recent fights, also has said he hoped to match them next.
Time will tell if the retirement announcement is a ploy to extract a better deal for the Joshua fight but Queensberry Promotions’ Frank Warren, Fury’s longtime co-promoter, said he was happy for him.
“God bless him. If that’s what he wants to do, that’s what he should do,” Warren told TNT Sports. “I’ve said it all along: No one should be trying to influence him in the boxing world, what he should do. It’s up to him at the end of the day, after consulting his family and making discussions. He’s made a lot of money. He’s had a fantastic career. He’s the best British heavyweight, probably joint best of his division, worst case, of this century. He’s been in some magnificent fights. He’s shown what he’s been about. He’s been exciting to be around him. I’ve loved every minute of it and I hope all the fans have as well. (He should) go and enjoy himself.
“And I hope he doesn’t leave boxing. I’d like him to come and work in boxing. He’s been brilliant for British and world boxing, and I wish him a lovely retirement and to enjoy his life.”
If there is skepticism that Fury (34-2-1, 24 KOs), 36, is retired for real it is no surprise. He has done this on several occasions.
Most recently, during the lead up to his April 2022 fight against British rival Dillian Whyte, Fury said it would be his last bout and he reiterated his retirement after scoring a sixth-round knockout victory to retain the lineal/WBC title. Fury returned to the ring less than eight months later.
Fury outpointed Wladimir Klitschko to win the lineal/unified title in November 2015 but did not fight again for nearly three years. During his time away from the ring in 2016 and 2017, while he was dealing with drug, alcohol and mental health issues as well as a positive performance-enhancing drug test, he twice announced his retirement.
He eventually returned in August 2018 and went on to have the have his famed trilogy with Deontay Wilder.
Fury went 2-0-1 against Wilder. They fought to a memorable split draw in the first fight in December 2018; Fury knocked him out in the seventh round of a one-sided rematch to retain the lineal title and win the WBC belt in February 2020; and Fury knocked him out again, this in the 11th round of an instant classic in their epic third fight in October 2021 that was the consensus fight of the year and one of the great heavyweight championship fights of all time.
Fury first announced a retirement in late 2013 after a much-anticipated fight with David Haye was canceled for the second time because Haye pulled out again with another injury. But Fury was back in action in early 2014.
Warren added in his interview with TNT Sorts that while he did not expect Fury to retire yet, especially with the Joshua fight available for big money, “If that’s how he feels, that’s how he feels and it’s up to him. It’s his life. I know he was disappointed with the result of the last fight, but look, he can’t change it. No one can change the result. It is what it is, and at the end of the day, good luck to him – enjoy your life and be happy with what you’ve achieved and what you’ve done with your life.”
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Fury photo: Leigh Dawney/Queensberry Promotions
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I didn’t care for Fury’s obnoxious act early in his career but I have grown to respect him a lot for his personal story of overcoming his internal demons to make a huge comeback in the ring. He has unexpected agility for a big man as well as excellent boxing skills. Who knows, maybe this retirement is a bargaining chip going into negotiations with Anthony Joshua. I still think we will see Fury vs Joshua this year.
He’ll be back in the Summer to clobber AJ, then retire again.