Tyson Fury’s boxing future has reportedly been confirmed after his second successive loss to heavyweight world champion Oleksandr Usyk.
The 36-year-old Mancunian lost to Usyk, 38, for the second time on Saturday night (21 December) in a huge fight that took place in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.
In a closely contested bout, the Gypsy King came up short for the second match in a row as Usyk’s technical ability saw him retain his belts and cement himself as the greatest heavyweight fighter of his generation.
As with any big fight this late in to their careers, rumours and talk about retirement naturally occur given how much is physically left in the tank – and that’s for both fighters, with Usyk now having the option to go out at the very top with a perfect, undefeated record.
Fury lost the rematch to Usyk by unanimous decision, with all three judges scoring it 116 – 112.
Leaving the ring after the defeat, Fury claimed he was ‘robbed’.
“I swear to God I thought I won it by at least three rounds. I bossed the fight, on front foot all night,” he told press after the fight.
Fury added: “I have been in boxing all my life and you can’t change any decision, but I will always feel hard done by. When you don’t get a knockout, you can’t guarantee a win.
“I think I won both fights. There is no doubt in my mind I won this fight. I think Usyk got a Christmas gift but it’s not Oleksandr’s fault.”
Now the question remains. Will Fury retire?
Well, according to his promoter Frank Warren, the plan now is to celebrate Christmas at his Morecambe family home before getting back to anything official in 2025.
But according to The Sun, Fury has told friends: “It’s not over.”
Now, all eyes will turn to a dream British fight between Fury and former world champion Anthony Joshua.
Both men have avoided each other throughout their careers. They have one thing in common, though, in that Usyk beat them both twice.
Now discussions are reportedly under way for a mega fight between the pair at Wembley Stadium.
After Fury’s second loss to Usyk, Eddie Hearn, AJ’s promoter, said: “There’s only one fight for Tyson Fury and that’s Anthony Joshua. It’s the biggest fight probably in the history of British boxing.
“Everyone will always want to see it. For me, AJ against Fury is the one, it’s the one at Wembley. It will be a huge global event.”
And in a move that cements the fight that little bit more from rumour to real potential, Fury’s promoter Frank Warren agreed, saying The Sun it would be a ‘brilliant’ bout.
“It’s what people will want to watch. The Fury/Joshua fight is a great fight and if it happens it will be a mega fight, it will be brilliant,” he said.
“But it will only happen if Tyson wants to do it and that’s a big if. And if he doesn’t want to do it, then so be it.”
LADbible has contacted Team Fury for comment.
