Tyson Fury has retired from boxing again and placed doubt over a mega fight with Anthony Joshua.
Following defeats to Oleksandr Usyk, ‘The Gypsy King’ released a statement with a cryptic message on social media, confirming his decision to hang up the gloves.
After falling to a unanimous decision to the Ukrainian in December, Fury looked poised to finally meet ‘AJ’ in the ring in one of the biggest fights in British boxing history.
But with negotiations still to advance, Fury has placed doubt over whether the two defining fighters of a generation in Great Britain will ever meet in the ring.
“Hi everybody, I’ll make this short and sweet, I’d like to announce my retirement from boxing, I’ve loved every single minute of it,” Fury said. “I’m going to end with this, Dick Turpin wore a mask. God bless everybody, I’ll see you on the other side.”
Follow all the latest reaction to the news, plus the latest from the Artur Beterbiev vs. Dmitry Bivol 2 and Daniel Dubois vs. Joseph Parker press conference:
Tyson Fury retires from boxing
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Tyson Fury has announced his retirement from boxing with a cryptic message on social media
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A member of Fury’s team believes retirement to be real
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Eddie Hearn maps out timeline for Anthony Joshua vs Fury talks
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Joshua outlines priority for first fight in 2025
Tyson Fury retires from boxing again with 17-second video
16:44 , Mike Jones
In 17 seconds, Tyson Fury announced his retirement from boxing again after defeats to Oleksandr Usyk.
The former world heavyweight champion has previously retired several times from the sport, most recently in 2022.
In an Instagram video posted on Monday (13 December), the 36-year-old said: “I’d like to announce my retirement from boxing, I’ve loved every single minute of it.
“I’m going to end with this, Dick Turpin wore a mask. God bless everybody, I’ll see you on the other side.”
Thanks to a sparkling 2024, heavyweight is boxing’s glamour division once again
16:36 , Mike Jones
Three world heavyweight title fights, fortunes earned, critics silenced, 96,000 at Wembley, one of the most dramatic rounds and one of the great champions left standing proudly at the end. It was a good year for the heavyweights in 2024.
At the very top, Oleksandr Usyk looks untouchable now, holding three of the four recognised belts; Daniel Dubois shocked the boxing world when he dropped and stopped Anthony Joshua in September at Wembley Stadium to keep the fourth version. It was another sold-out stadium fight for the heavyweight world championship between two British boxers.
Thanks to a sparkling 2024, heavyweight is boxing’s glamour division once again
Will Fury’s retirement last?
16:29 , Mike Jones
Tyson Fury shocked Wladimir Klitschko in 2015 to win the WBA (Super), IBF, WBO, IBO, and The Ring heavyweight titles.
He was later forced to give them up after a couple of years out of the ring whilst dealing with mental health issues. Fury returned to action in 2018 and became a two-time champion by beating Deontay Wilder to claim the WBC belt in 2020 and defended the title in a trilogy capper.
Fury previously announced his retirement after beating Dillian Whyte in April 2022 but returned to boxing six months later. Will his retirement last this time?
Time will tell.
Frank Warren reacts to Fury retirement on TNT Sports
16:21 , Mike Jones
Tyson Fury’s promoter said: “God bless him. If that’s what he wants to do, that’s what he should do. I said it all along, nobody should be trying to influence him in the boxing world, it’s up to him after consulting his family.
“He’s made a lot of money, he’s had a fantastic career, he’s the best British heavyweight, he’s probably the joint-best heavyweight of his division in the worst case this century, he’s been in some magnificent fights, he’s shown what he’s been about, it’s been exciting to be around him and I’ve loved every minute of it and I hope fans have as well, and 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 world boxing and I wish him a lovely retirement and to enjoy his life.
“I’ll be honest, I didn’t expect it today but if that’s how he feels, that’s how he feels, and it’s his life, and he’s said how it is. I know he was disappointed with the result of the fight, but he can’t change it, nobody can change the result, it is what it is, and at the end of the day good luck to him.
“Enjoy it, enjoy your life. Be happy with what you’ve achieved and what you’ve done with your life because you’ve done magnificent. Think where you were before that second comeback and look at what you managed to do.
“You should be more pleased with that than any boxing or anything, how you turned your life around. God bless you.”
A final word from Eddie Hearn
16:13 , Mike Jones
“My gut feeling is we see AJ vs Fury this summer. I cannot believe he [Fury] would check out without doing that fight. If he genuinely isn’t enjoying it anymore then he should.”
Is Tyson Fury’s retirement serious?
16:10 , Mike Jones
Tyson Fury has previously announced his retirement from boxing before. Following a victory over Dillion Whyte in 2022, Fury decided he was done with the sport before changing his mind six months later.
Is today’s announcement something similar? Maybe not.
The Independent understands that at least one of Fury’s team members believes the retirement to be real.
In December, Fury lost to Oleksandr Usyk in a rematch for the heavyweight world title in what was his second defeat to the Ukranian. At 36-years-old it would not be surprising if Fury has given up the gloves for good.
Hearn on Joshua’s next move if Fury remains retired
16:07 , Mike Jones
Eddie Hearn said: “I think he [AJ] wants to make it clear to people that he wants the fight [with Fury]. I’ve said in the last couple of weeks it really depends on what Tyson Fury wants to do.
“If he wants to fight AJ the fight gets made like that but if he doesn’t want to fight AJ then there’s nothing we can do about it and we’ll focus on the Dubois vs Parker winner.
“There’s loads of fights we can take. Just like Tyson Fury will be struggling with the defeat [to Usyk], AJ definitely struggled with the Dubois defeat. There’s no doubt about it, he’s only just coming through the other side, he’s got the bit between his now.”
Hearn on potential Joshua-Fury fight
15:59 , Mike Jones
More from Eddie Hearn and the possibility of making a fight between Anthony Joshua and Tyson Fury after Fury’s announcement about retirement.
Hearn said: “It’s the first time I’ve heard AJ call him [Fury] out [at the weekend]. So does he [Fury] want that pressure to keep mounting on him or does he want to draw a line under it and say: ‘I’m retired, f*** off’
“I don’t know if Tyson Fury is ready yet to live the life without boxing and without competition and confrontation. Maybe he is, maybe the last fight, the last camp was horrible for him and he didn’t enjoy it. He’s made an absolute fortune and says ‘I’m done.’”
Eddie Hearn reacts to Fury’s retirement
15:50 , Mike Jones
Eddie Hearn will speak more later on at the press conference ahead of Beterbiev vs Bivol 2 but the promoter gave an initial reaction to the news about Tyson Fury’s retirement.
Fury had been touted to fight Anthony Joshua, who is promoted by Hearn, as his next opponent.
Hearn said: “I mean, I’m not going to accuse him of anything, but I think you get a better deal coming out of retirement. Or maybe he hasn’t got the stomach for it anymore. Beat twice and had enough, I doubt it but who knows?
“I don’t know him well enough to know. Maybe he is done. What’s it been three weeks since he got beat? I think he’ll be hurting after the defeat. I think he’s either going to fight AJ or he’s never going to fight again.
“We’d already spoken to Frank [Warren] and Queensbury and said: ‘obviously we want to do the fight’ and they said not now, but when the time comes let’s talk. It’ll be interesting.”
Oleksandr Usyk thanks Tyson Fury after winning The Ring Magazine Male Fighter of the Year award
15:43 , Jack Rathborn
“Firstly, I want to thank God,” Usyk said in his acceptance speech.
“My family, my team, his Excellency – thank you so much. This year was great for me, my team and my country. For me, it’s very important
“If you want to help people give good smiles, education and behaviour – smile. Thank you so much.”
“And I want to say to my opponent. My best friend, Tyson Fury, my friend greedy belly – thank you so much you, were a great opponent.”
Tyson Fury explains decision to come out of retirement in 2022 to fight Derek Chisora
15:35 , Jack Rathborn
“I went out running straight away, as soon as I got back,” Fury said, following his first defeat to Usyk in May. “It’s back to my routine life. I train every day. I love what I do.
“I’ll be doing it until I can’t run anymore. It’s just what we do. My grandfather jogged three miles the day he died. It’s in me to do it all my life.
“I need to be more focused this time, and not as much showboating. You can get complacent on that. So if I don’t get complacent, then I should [win].”
Tyson Fury responds to second loss to Oleksandr Usyk
15:27 , Jack Rathborn
“I felt a little Christmas spirit in there and I think he got a little Christmas gift from them judges,” Fury said in the immediate aftermath.
“An early Christmas gift. I was confident I had won that fight again. I thought I’d won both fights, but then again I’ve gone home with two losses on my record. I will always believe until the day I die that I won that fight.
“I’m not going to cry over spilt milk. It’s happened now. I know boxing, I’ve been in it all my life and you can’t change no decisions. I will always feel a little bit hard done by. Not a little bit, actually a lot. When you don’t get the knockout, this is what happens. You can’t guarantee the win.”
Frank Warren reacts to Tyson Fury retirement announcement
15:20 , Jack Rathborn
Frank Warren reacts to Tyson Fury retirement: “God bless him, if that’s want he wants to do, that’s what he should do, nobody should try to influence him.
“The best ever British heavyweight, the joint-best in his division, exciting, I’ve loved every minute of it.
“Go and enjoy yourself, he’s been brilliant for British boxing, I wish him a lovely retirement.
“I didn’t expect it today, if that’s how he feels, it’s his life. At the end of the day, enjoy your life and be happy with what you’ve achieved, it’s been magnificent. You should be so pleased with how you turned your life around.”
Frank Warren and Eddie Hearn set to speak at press conference
15:10 , Jack Rathborn
We’ll hear more about Tyson Fury’s latest retirement later this evening.
With the press conference for the blockbuster February card involving Artur Beterbiev vs. Dmitry Bivol 2 and Daniel Dubois vs. Joseph Parker, promoters Frank Warren and Eddie Hearn are due to speak.
We’ll bring you live updates from our Combat Sports Correspondent Alex Pattle.
Anthony Joshua outlines priority for first fight in 2025
15:03 , Jack Rathborn
Anthony Joshua has revealed that he is aiming to secure a fight against Tyson Fury in 2025.
The former world heavyweight champion was knocked out in the fifth round when he fought Daniel Dubois in September, but he does not appear to be close to retirement.
The 35-year-old has long been linked with a contest against Fury, and with the ‘Gypsy King’ losing to Oleksandr Usyk on points at the end of the last year, the long-awaited bout suddenly appears to make sense for both fighters.
“[In] 2025, I’m targeting Fury,” said Joshua, who spoke while on a visit to meet Nigerian President Bola Tinubu.
“[The loss to Dubois] makes me hungry, makes me want to work harder. Time is of the essence, time is limited, so I just want to put in more work.
Anthony Joshua outlines priority for first fight in 2025
Eddie Hearn maps out timeline for Anthony Joshua vs Tyson Fury talks
14:57 , Jack Rathborn
Before Tyson Fury announced he was retired, Eddie Hearn admitted it is not “time to start prodding” Tyson Fury over a potential fight with Anthony Joshua.
While Joshua, 35, versus Fury, 36, is not the fight it once was, the Britons may be on a collision course again, and Hearn was asked about the contest on Monday (6 January).
“It’s literally the fight that every casual fan in the UK wants,” Hearn told The Stomping Ground. “It’s the biggest fight in boxing commercially, and when people say it’s not… Tell me a bigger fight; there isn’t one.
Eddie Hearn maps out timeline for Anthony Joshua vs Tyson Fury talks
Tyson Fury has announced his retirement from boxing with a cryptic message on social media
14:56 , Jack Rathborn
Tyson Fury has announced his retirement from boxing once again following back-to-back defeats to Oleksandr Usyk before adding a cryptic message.
The former world heavyweight champion dropped a unanimous decision to the Ukrainian in December, falling to 34-2-1 as a professional.
And in a speech on his social media account, Fury, who has previously retired several times from the sport, most recently in 2022, said: “Hi everybody, I’ll make this short and sweet, I’d like to announce my retirement from boxing, I’ve loved every single minute of it.
“I’m going to end with this, Dick Turpin wore a mask. God bless everybody, I’ll see you on the other side.”
Tyson Fury announces retirement from boxing with cryptic message
