The former two-time heavyweight champion has hinted at a return to the ring despite calling it quits after back-to-back losses to Oleksandr Usyk
Tyson Fury has plenty of options on the table should the former two-time heavyweight champion make a retirement U-turn.
Back in January, the 36-year-old shocked the world after officially calling it a day. “Hi everybody, I’m going to make this short and sweet,” he said in a video uploaded to social media. “I’d like to announce my retirement from boxing. It’s been a blast, I’ve loved every single minute of it. I’m going to end with this. Dick Turpin wore a mask. God bless everybody, see you on the other side. Get up!”
His announcement came just weeks after losing to long-time rival Oleksandr Usyk for a second time. Over the last few weeks, though, the ‘Gypsy King’ has hinted at a return to the ring. Recently, the Brit he uploaded a short video in the gym alongside trainer SugarHill Steward.
Fury, 36, who was sweating slightly after potentially wrapping up a workout said: “Just in the gym, happened to bump into somebody you might know.” He then shifted the camera towards the direction of an energetic and happy SugarHill – who replied: “You know what time it is!” The ‘Gypsy King’ had the last say before ending the story: “You know what’s coming,” he said – seemingly teasing a return to the ring.
Despite back-to-back defeats to the Ukrainian, the Brit has several fight options on the table should he make a stunning comeback – including a stunning trilogy fight with Usyk. Back in April, Fury revealed he was ready for a third fight with the ‘Cat.’ The Ukrainian has said that he will have one more fight after taking on Daniel Dubois next month, with plenty of fight fans hoping to see him in the ring with Fury one more time.
Speaking to The Stomping Ground, Usyk was asked about fighting Fury again and said: “Maybe it’s Tyson Fury. Maybe it’s Anthony Joshua.” He then added on Fury: “He’s not retired. I think Tyson will continue training, continue boxing, because he’s a great man. Yes, Tyson Fury… a lot of speak – blah blah blah blah – but it’s good. Great man, wow.” Responding to an Instagram post of the interview, Fury wrote: “Beat the f***er 2 times the world knows the truth. Any time, any place. sucher (sic) UK next time 100k people.”
Another fight that could be on the cards is an all-British showdown with Anthony Joshua. Following Fury’s defeat to the Usyk in December, many had hoped to see the ‘Gypsy King’ and Joshua go head-to-head this year. Joshua has not fought since suffering a knockout defeat to Dubois last September. The 35-year-old is aiming to return to competitive boxing before the end of the year, following elbow surgery. Eddie Hearn – Joshua’s promoter – recently confirmed that ‘AJ’ is in discussions with Saudi boxing supremo Turki Alalshikh over a new multiple fight deal.
Joshua has not given up hope of finally realising a bout with Fury. The Brit is not convinced that his rival’s retirement is final and appears confident that a fight could still materialise. The British pair agreed a two-bout deal in 2020 but saw plans scuppered when it was ruled Fury had to permit Deontay Wilder a trilogy fight.
In a recent post uploaded to Snapchat, Joshua shared an image of himself watching Fury fight, saying: “One of these days I’ll be standing in the opposite corner. Ready and fully charged spiritually.” Hearn himself is still holding out hope that Fury will make a retirement U-turn and fight his star client.
The Boxing promoter told DAZN: “It’s probably three fights away. For me, if I’m advising AJ, we’re back this year, we have two Tyson Fury fights, what else is there to do? Maybe fight a Daniel Dubois, but for me once AJ fights Tyson Fury, he’s kind of done it all. I’d love him to have another crack at Daniel Dubois and I’d love him to have another crack at Usyk but you just keep going on and on and on. Now, if we get to next year and he’s still firing on all cylinders then 2026 won’t be his last year. But for me, something feels right about coming back this year, beating Tyson Fury twice and then sailing off into the sunset.”
