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Anthony Joshua dealt major blow in pursuit of Tyson Fury super-fight – as Gypsy King’s promoter insists he’s happily retired

  • Anthony Joshua’s hopes of facing Tyson Fury have suffered a major blow 
  • Fury’s promoter Frank Warren declared that The Gypsy King is happily retired

Anthony Joshua has suffered a significant setback to his hopes of fighting Tyson Fury.

The clash between the two British stars has long been slated but now seems unlikely to happen, with Fury’s promoter Frank Warren insisting that The Gypsy King is happily retired.

Fury announced his retirement from boxing last month following on from his defeat to Oleksandr Usyk in December.

The proposed two-fight deal between Joshua and Fury which would be worth £150million now appears unlikely to be taken up.

Warren told BoxingScene: ‘I don’t speak to him on a regular basis because he’s spending time with his family.

‘He had nearly a year in training camp with a fight. One camp, very late into the camp, fell apart because of his cut eye.

‘Last year was a lot of sacrifice for him, not seeing his family, his wife and kids and so forth. He’s making up for it now.

‘He’s retired, and I’m just looking forward to him being happy. That’s all I want to do, is see him being happy. He’s retired and God bless him.’

Fury was initially beaten by Usyk in May 2024 before also losing the rematch.

 Tyson Fury and Anthony Joshua

As a result Fury ended up losing his WBC title as well as his unbeaten record.

Joshua, meanwhile, also lost his most recent fight as he was beaten by Daniel Dubois at Wembley in September last year.

After Joshua withdrew from talks regarding a rematch with Dubois there were hopes that he would be able to face Fury.

However, it now appears that Joshua will have to look for another opponent.

Prior to his defeat to Dubois, Joshua had won his previous four bouts as he overcame Francis Ngannou, Otto Wallin, Robert Helenius and Jermaine Franklin.

In total Joshua has won 28 of his 32 professional fights.

Former WBC cruiserweight champion Tony Bellew has backed Anthony Joshua to knock out Tyson Fury if the long-awaited all-British heavyweight clash eventually materialises, PUNCH Sports Extra reports.

Speaking to Fightlens, Bellew expressed confidence in Joshua’s ability to stop The Gypsy King, despite acknowledging Fury’s superior boxing skills.

“I’ve always said it and I’ll stick by it. I think Anthony Joshua will be forced to let his hands go, and he’ll knock out Tyson Fury,” Bellew said.

“Do I think he’s the better fighter? No. But not always the better fighter wins. I’ve been in fights myself where I’ve beaten fighters better than me, like David Haye. I beat him twice, but he’s a better fighter than me. Styles make fights.”

The highly anticipated showdown between the British rivals appeared close in 2021, with reports of a two-fight deal in Saudi Arabia, but Fury’s contractual obligation to face Deontay Wilder for a third time derailed those plans.

Tyson Fury and Anthony Joshua

Joshua, who lost his WBA, IBF, WBO and IBO titles to Oleksandr Usyk later that year, bounced back with victories over Jermaine Franklin, Otto Wallin and Francis Ngannou before suffering a shock defeat to Daniel Dubois.

Meanwhile, Fury recently announced his retirement following his second loss to Usyk, though the 35-year-old has previously retired and returned on multiple occasions since his 2015 victory over Wladimir Klitschko.

Hopes of the mega-fight happening were rekindled when His Excellency Turki Alalshikh hinted at a potential clash between the heavyweight stars in 2025.

“Fury might be the better fighter on paper, but Joshua has the tools to force an outcome,” Bellew added. “Styles make fights, and AJ has the power and determination to cause an upset.”

Agit Kabayel is a well-travelled heavyweight who has taken punches from both Tyson Fury and Anthony Joshua so he has an inside view on how a fight between the two might play out.

Two-time European champion Kabayel is a rising star in the division. The German boxer almost fought ‘The Gypsy King’ back in 2020 but instead Fury had to honour a third fight with Deontay Wilder in the US.

Kabayel has since gone on to defeat the likes of Kevin Johnson, Pavel Sour and, most impressively, undefeated prospect Arslanbek Makhmudov who he beat by technical stoppage on the Day of Reckoning event in Riyadh after knocking him down several times.

In May 2024, Kabayel also stopped Frank Sanchez and was due to fight the widely avoided Martin Bakole out in Nigeria but withdrew from purse bids.

Tyson Fury and Anthony Joshua

Having sparred both Joshua and Fury across his career, he has been asked about what would happen if the British former world champions were finally to come to blows this year.

Speaking to Seconds Out, he was asked if Joshua, who he has sparred most, would win.

“No. I sparred with the two guys. Sparred with Fury, with AJ. This fight is very close but I think when I give you a prediction for the fight, Fury will win the fight.”

These two stars are both coming off losses – Joshua via stoppage to Daniel Dubois who retained his IBF world title, and Fury was defeated in back-to-back contests to all-time great Oleksandr Usyk. Fans believe it leaves them both with no better options than a legacy-defining fight.

Boxer Tyson Fury recently announced that he was retiring from the sport. Just like he did in 2013 and 2017. And then again in 2022.

Maybe this time he means it. If he does, it will mean walking away from a lucrative planned fight against Anthony Joshua, which was set to generate over $300 million (£246 million) in revenue.

Not that Fury will have any pressing financial concerns of course. He is reportedly Britain’s highest-ever paid boxer, with estimates putting his net worth between £80 million and £300 million.

But given Fury’s multiple business ventures, he can easily choose to now pivot towards expanding his fortune outside of the ring. The 36-year-old is another example of a celebrity entrepreneur who has been hugely successful in one field and then used their fame to branch into others.

Fury’s Many Options

In Fury’s case, his current projects include an energy drink, ice lollies, and protein bars. There’s a Netflix series too, so he’s unlikely to be bored in retirement (if he sticks to it, of course).

Social media is likely to help Fury if he wants to develop his business interests, as a crucial element of his ongoing brand value. Luckily for him, this is another space where he packs a considerable punch. He has 6.9 million followers on Instagram, 2.2 million on X, and 2.2 million on Facebook.

For athletes seeking to pursue an entrepreneurial path after they’re done with elite competition, social media has become a crucial tool. With the right numbers, it can be an easy way to amplify their personal brand and smooth the transition from sporting excellence to things like fashion, entertainment, and food and drink.

Fury’s numbers put him in an excellent position to launch and promote consumer products. Or indeed, to promote social causes, and change some of the media narrative that surrounds him as an outspoken and sometimes controversial showman. He has previously used his popularity to raise awareness against social causes like youth knife crime, for example.

Similarly, when swimmer Michael Phelps retired, he became well-known as a mental health advocate. Former Arsenal footballer Thierry Henry used his status to campaign against racism and bullying.

Tyson Fury and Anthony Joshua

Media Matters

A lot of retired sports personalities these days seem to be following David Beckham’s celebrity and entrepreneurial branding pathway. One of the best-known footballers on the planet, he has a vast social media following (over 88 million followers on Instagram), and has branched out into the worlds of sportswear, grooming products, and video games, to name but a few.

Gary Lineker, soon to end his 26-year reign as presenter of Match of the Day, is well known for his commercial connection to a brand of potato crisp. In recent years, he has also made a big success out of the podcast boom, with his company Goalhanger.

Certainly, the media is a popular route for many athletes after their playing days are over. Former Premier League players Gary Neville (Manchester United) and Jamie Carragher (Liverpool) are among the highest-paid UK sports pundits on television channels like Sky Sports and ITV. Rio Ferdinand (also Manchester United), who has done plenty of punditry himself, now appears to be focusing on building his own personal brand alongside running a successful podcast with 1.26 million subscribers.

When former Premier League goalkeeper Ben Foster was approaching retirement, he started documenting the behind-the-scenes life of a football player. His vlogs became an important part in the resurgence and world fame of Wrexham FC.

Elsewhere, triple tennis grand slam winner Andy Murray has hinted at a possible acting and stage career after retirement. In the meantime, he agreed to coach his former rival Novak Djokovic and is also involved in multiple brand deals.

Mixed martial artist Conor McGregor co-created a whiskey brand. Cristiano Ronaldo has capitalized on his massive social media following to promote his CR7 brand.

Post-Sports Well-Being and Prosperity

This kind of branching out has been described by researchers as “reconstructing athletic identity,” which has come to be seen as an important coping mechanism for athletes dealing with the loss of identity that some professional sportsmen and women experience post-retirement.

Research suggests that athletes who come to the end of their sporting careers can face significant long-term challenges, including distress, depression, and substance misuse.

For some athletes, social media can help them to ease the transition away from elite sports. It has opened up a direct channel to consumers and fans which allows them to maintain a high level of social engagement — as they switch from the athletic arena to a new competitive world as entrepreneurs. And while this may count towards astute financial planning for retirement, it can also have a meaningful impact on their general well-being.

Former world heavyweight champion Tyson Fury will retire from boxing, ending a decorated career spanning nearly two decades, he announced Monday on Instagram.

“Hi everybody, I’m gonna make this short and sweet,” Fury said in a video posted to the social media platform. “I’d like to announce my retirement from boxing. It’s been a blast. I’ve loved every single minute of it.”

Fury (34-2-1) previously announced his retirement in 2022 but returned to the ring later that year to fight Derek Chisora. He went on to additional bouts with Francis Ngannou and Oleksandr Usyk.

Fury, 36, was unbeaten through the first 35 bouts of his career. He then lost two consecutive title bouts to Usyk — on May 18 and Dec. 21.

He started his career with 27-consecutive victories before a draw with American Deontay Wilder in 2018. He went on to beat Wilder in two rematches.

Fury, whose other retirement announcements came in 2013 and 2017, also referred to 18th-century highway robber and horse thief Dick Turpin in his latest retirement message.

“I’m going to end with this,” Fury said. “Dick Turpin wore a mask. God bless everybody, see you on the other side.”

Dillian Whyte believes Anthony Joshua needed to pursue an immediate rematch with Daniel Dubois after his brutal defeat.

Joshua was dropped three times in the shock defeat to British rival Dubois at Wembley Stadium in September, in a damaging blow to his hopes of being in the world title mix.

AJ is coming to the back end of his career and was expected to face Dubois in an immediate sequel this year, spurred on by the opportunity of revenge.

But the fight collapsed and now the former two-time champion is waiting to see what the year brings in terms of a potential opponent.

It appeared the British heavyweight was waiting to see if he can lure Tyson Fury into a blockbuster, but the ‘Gypsy King’ recently announced his retirement.

And Whyte, who was beaten by Joshua in 2015, believes the rematch was necessary to write his wrongs before being able to move on.

Whyte told Sky Sports: “He made a huge mistake not taking the immediate rematch with Dubois.

“It was a world title fight, a great payday and the perfect opportunity. He will forever have to suffer the memes of being face-planted at Wembley by Dubois.

“When I lost to [Alexander] Povetkin, I crashed Eddie Hearn’s live interview and demanded the rematch.

“Nothing else mattered until I beat him in the rematch. It’s a mindset thing. I want to fight AJ and Tyson again because they both beat me.”

Whyte himself looked set to rematch Joshua last August but the fight was cancelled after one of his drug tests returned an adverse finding.

But now the ‘Body Snatcher’ wants the rematch again, which could be an alternative option for Joshua in 2025.

He added: “[Joshua] Sounds perfect for me. They don’t need to ask me twice.

Anthony Joshua and Tyson Fury

“They talk about me as an option, but they haven’t said anything to me, so it’s just negotiation tactics from them.

“But I’m up for the fight and I’m ready to fight again. If he wants to fight, then all they’ve got to do is call me.

“I’m always up for fighting AJ. No problem for me. However, personally, I think he’s finished.”

Joshua could feasibly agree to face Whyte, with a showdown against Fury now seemingly off the table.

But he still possesses an interest in rematching Dubois, despite ‘Dynamite’ making his next IBF title defence against Joseph Parker on February 22.

Dubois is also determined to now move forward and suggested he would look to pursue a sequel with Oleksandr Usyk, which could be for the undisputed titles.

Joshua could also have numerous other options on the table, with promoter Eddie Hearn suggesting he could face Martin Bakole or Deontay Wilder.

Tyson Fury vs. Anthony Joshua: Teddy Atlas picks winner for all-British showdown

There was plenty of excitement amongst boxing fans at the start of 2025 with it looking likely that Tyson Fury and Anthony Joshua would finally meet inside the ring.

With both men seemingly out of the world title picture and the curtain beginning to come down on two memorable careers, it looked like a Battle of Britain would be the perfect way to bow out of boxing.

However, these plans were thrown into disarray after Fury announced last week his decision to retire.

While this did produce a shock, many within boxing are taking this news with a pinch of salt with Fury known for reversing numerous retirement decisions in the past.

Some have even decided to applaud Fury as he uses retirement as a negotiation tactic to get a bigger purse for a showdown with AJ.

Regardless of whether this fight materialises, it is still a hotly debated topic with renowned boxing analyst Teddy Atlas the latest to make his pick when it comes to finding a winner.

“Whoever has more left of themselves, who didn’t leave more of themselves in the ring,” Atlas told CanadaCasino.ca.

“In the last few fights AJ left a lot of himself in the ring. You leave parts of yourself in the ring. He’s a gutsy guy. He had a great career. Obviously everyone loves him. But a part of him was left in the ring.

“Part of Tyson Fury was left in the ring in those [Deontay] Wilder fights. We forget. It removed a little bit from him.  Also that first [Oleksandr] Usyk. That ninth round, he left parts of himself in that ring.”

“That’s what it’ll come down to now. I if I was to venture, Joshua has more physically left, but Fury to me was always stronger mentally, and I have to stick by what I’ve said forever. I think that at the end it’s 75% mental, and if that shows itself to be true, then I would go with Fury always being a little stronger on the mental side than Joshua.

Tyson Fury and Anthony Joshua

“I think Joshua is a gutsy guy. I think he showed a lot coming back and facing the devil after he got knocked out by [Andy] Ruiz, he changed his style. He did what he had to do, but he faced the devil. He came back in that fight. He’s shown a strong constitution, a strong mental toughness to do that. There’s no doubt about that. But at the at the same time, Fury’s mentality has been really his greatest strength”

Fury may be done with the sport of boxing, but Joshua certainly is not and according to his promoter Eddie Hearn, there are seven possible opponents for the Olympian, with an official announcement yet to be made.

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Eddie Hearn: Anthony Joshua Silent After Tyson Fury’s Shock Retirement Announcement

Boxing promoter Eddie Hearn has revealed that Anthony Joshua has remained quiet following Tyson Fury’s sudden announcement of retirement.

The news came on Monday when Fury, known as the ‘Gypsy King,’ declared he was stepping away from boxing after suffering a defeat to Oleksandr Usyk last month.

“Hi everybody, I’m going to make this short and sweet,” Fury said in his retirement post.

“I’d like to announce my retirement from boxing. It has been a blast, I’ve loved every single minute of it, and I’m going to end with this: Dick Turpin wore a mask.”

The announcement has sent shockwaves through the boxing world, seemingly putting an end to the possibility of a long-anticipated clash between Fury and Joshua.

The fight, touted as a historic £150 million event, was expected to take place in 2025, offering both fighters a chance to restore their legacies following recent defeats.

Despite the buzz, Hearn shared that Joshua has not reacted to the news and remains focused on his own career.

Speaking to iFL TV, Hearn said, “Listen, one… we don’t really take it too seriously. Two… if it is serious, there’s nothing we can do about it anyway.”

“What do you think goes on? Do you think Josh is going to phone me up and go, ‘Oh Ed, have you seen the news, mate?’ He’s not that kind of guy.”

When asked if he had received any word from Joshua since Fury’s announcement, Hearn responded, “Not one,” before speculating on Fury’s intentions:

Tyson Fury and Anthony Joshua

“He could have been doing it because he’s got the ump. He could have been doing it for some attention. He could have been doing it because it’s true. What’s the point in guessing?”

A Negotiating Tactic?

In a separate interview, Hearn expressed skepticism over the sincerity of Fury’s announcement, suggesting it might be a strategic move.

“I’m not going to accuse him of not being genuine, but I think you get a better deal coming out of retirement,” Hearn explained.

“Or maybe he just hasn’t got the stomach for it anymore. He got beat twice and has had enough. I doubt it, but who knows? I don’t know him well enough to know, but maybe he’s done.”

Despite Fury’s claims, Hearn remains optimistic about a potential showdown between Joshua and Fury.

“My gut feeling is we will see AJ against Fury this summer. But maybe he’s for real.”

Former world champion George Groves believes Tyson Fury will come out of retirement to face Anthony Joshua in a blockbuster heavyweight clash, The PUNCH reports.

Fury announced his retirement on Monday following back-to-back losses to Oleksandr Usyk, but Groves suspects it’s a negotiation tactic rather than a final decision.

“I reckon it’s a negotiation tactic, maybe it’s a mind game thing with Anthony Joshua,” Groves told SunSport.

“I mean there probably is a significant part of him that thinks, ‘Oh I want to retire.’ And he might be speaking it into existence. But I don’t think he wants to retire.”

Joshua’s promoter Eddie Hearn shares similar sentiments, suggesting Fury’s retirement announcement is strategic.

“If you ever want to come back and get the max, you have to retire first, haven’t you? Someone then has to bring you out of retirement,” Hearn told iFL TV.

“I think he’ll want to fight again, I think he will get bored and he will know the British public want to see the AJ fight.”

Joshua, who recently visited Nigeria and met with President Bola Tinubu, has expressed his desire for the all-British showdown in 2025.

Tyson Fury and Anthony Joshua

“Ups and downs happen, but I can’t stop now. My goal is to become a three-time world champion and face Tyson Fury in 2025,” Joshua told reporters in Lagos.

This marks Fury’s third retirement announcement, having previously stepped away from the sport in 2018 then later in 2022 before returning to defeat Derek Chisora.

The ‘Gypsy King’ retires with an impressive record of 34 victories and two defeats, both coming against Usyk, while never suffering a knockout loss throughout his career.

Groves, who retired in 2018 as super-middleweight world champion, even predicted that the two British heavyweights could become friends after eventually settling their differences in the ring.

“I bet you, if they do box they’ll be cuddling each other after,” the former champion added.

Former world heavyweight champion Tyson Fury has announced his retirement from boxing following consecutive defeats to Oleksandr Usyk. The announcement comes just two days after Anthony Joshua expressed interest in facing Fury in a long-anticipated British heavyweight clash.

Fury, 36, suffered his first loss to Usyk via a split decision on May 18, and a unanimous decision defeat in their rematch on December 21, both held in Saudi Arabia. The initial loss cost Fury multiple heavyweight championships, and his rematch defeat fueled speculation about his future in the sport.

In a video posted on Instagram, Fury confirmed his decision to retire from boxing.

“I’d like to announce my retirement from boxing. It’s been a blast. I have loved every single minute of it and I’m going to end with this—Dick Turpin wore a mask!”

This is not the first time “The Gypsy King” has announced his retirement. In April 2022, after defeating Dillian Whyte, Fury declared he would be hanging up his gloves, only to return six months later to fight Derek Chisora in a trilogy bout at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium.

Fury’s promoter, Frank Warren, expressed his support for the decision, telling Sky Sports:
“Good luck to him, God bless him. I’m thrilled for him. I’ve been saying since his last fight, whatever he chooses to do, I support him 100 percent.”

Tyson Fury and Anthony Joshua

 

The retirement is a setback for Anthony Joshua, who had recently reiterated his determination to fight Fury in 2025, declaring, “It’s a fight I want to see because I am a fan of boxing. When I am in the gym, everyone is asking me [about this fight]. I ain’t got many years ahead of me. I want to leave the game with a bang and make an impact.”

Joshua’s promoter, Eddie Hearn, called Fury’s decision “disappointing for British fight fans” but cast doubt on its permanence, adding, “I hope the Joshua-Fury fight can still happen.”

Fury retires as a two-time heavyweight world champion, having first won the title by defeating Wladimir Klitschko in 2015. After a three-year hiatus, he returned to beat Deontay Wilder in their 2020 rematch to claim the WBC title. Fury successfully defended his crown against Wilder again in 2021 and later against Dillian Whyte and Derek Chisora in 2022.

He survived a dramatic challenge against Francis Ngannou in 2023 before falling to Usyk twice last year. Despite the disappointment of his final bouts, Fury’s legacy as one of the most iconic heavyweight champions of this generation remains intact.

For now, boxing fans will have to wait to see if Fury’s latest retirement truly marks the end of his storied career.