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Former two-time heavyweight world champion Tyson Fury has announced his retirement from boxing, ending an illustrious and eventful career.
The 36-year-old, known as the “Gipsy King,” shared the news in a short video message, expressing gratitude for his time in the sport.
“I’d like to announce my retirement from boxing. It has been a blast; I’ve loved every single minute of it,” Fury said.
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This announcement comes just weeks after Fury’s loss to Oleksandr Usyk in their rematch, where the Ukrainian retained the WBA (Super), WBC, WBO, and IBF titles in a unanimous decision victory. It was Fury’s second consecutive defeat, marking the end of his previously undefeated record, which now stands at 34 wins, two losses, and one draw.
Fury first shocked the boxing world in 2015 when he dethroned Wladimir Klitschko to become the unified heavyweight champion. After a prolonged hiatus battling mental health issues, he made a triumphant return in 2018 and recaptured glory by defeating Deontay Wilder to claim the WBC belt in 2020.
Known for his resilience, charisma, and in-ring intelligence, Fury has been a cornerstone of the modern heavyweight division.
His clashes with Wilder and Usyk are regarded as classics, cementing his legacy as one of the greatest heavyweights of his era.
However, Fury’s announcement has been met with widespread skepticism. This marks his second retirement after a similar declaration in 2022, which he later reversed. Prominent promoter Eddie Hearn speculated that Fury might be leveraging the announcement to heighten interest in a potential superfight with Anthony Joshua.
“A fight between Fury and Joshua is too big to ignore,” Hearn said. “If this is the last we see of him, he’s had a great career. But I doubt it.”
Even Fury’s promoter, Frank Warren, expressed surprise, stating he had not been informed of Fury’s plans. Warren praised Fury’s achievements, saying, “He’s probably been the best British heavyweight of his generation.”
Fans continue to clamour for a long-anticipated clash between Fury and fellow Briton Anthony Joshua. Despite setbacks for both fighters—Fury’s losses to Usyk and Joshua’s shock defeat to Daniel Dubois—such a showdown remains one of the most lucrative possibilities in boxing.
BBC Sport journalist Kal Sajad echoed these sentiments, suggesting Fury’s retirement might be a tactical move. “A fight with Joshua makes too much sense financially and historically for it not to happen,” he wrote.
