Tyson Fury's decision to retire splits boxing as he snubs Anthony Joshua fight
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Tyson Fury has been backed in his decision to retire from boxing - and forfeit a £150million payday against Anthony Joshua. Fury, 36, announced his decision to quit 23 days after losing to Oleksandr Usyk for the second time in seven months. Fury insists he was robbed of victory in his rematch with Usyk, despite all three judges giving the Ukrainian the nod by the same score. And Fury doubled down on his belief by referencing robber Dick Turpin as he made his retirement announcement from the front seat of his car.
“I’m going to keep this short and sweet,” said Fury. "I would like to announce my retirement from boxing. It's been a blast, I've loved every single minute and I’m going to end with this. Dick Turpin wore a mask. God bless everybody, see you on the other side." Fury became world champion for the first time in 2015 when he outpointed Wladimir Klitschko in Germany.
He then returned from a near three-year drink-and-drug fuelled depression to dethrone Deontay Wilder in 2020. But he discovered his nemesis in Usyk who became the undisputed world champion last May before doubling up in December. Fury previously announced his retirement in 2015 and 2017 before doing so again after beating Dillian Whyte in 2022, only to return to the ring by the end of the year against Dereck Chisora.
Fury had been expected to agree a mammoth deal to finally fight bitter rival Joshua at Wembley this summer. But his promoter Frank Warren now expects his man to stay retired. "I support him 100 per cent if that’s what he wants to do," he said "It’s a decision he had to make and it's not for anyone else to decide. He’s got a wife and seven kids, he’s made fortunes and doesn’t need to box for money.
