Former two-time world heavyweight champion Tyson Fury announced his retirement at the start of 2025.
The announcement came rather out of the blue, and just a couple of weeks after Fury took his second consecutive loss to Oleksandr Usyk.
The first loss back in May 2024 saw him fall short in his quest to become the undisputed heavyweight champion. He lost his WBC belt to Usyk after 12 close rounds, and much the same transpired in December in the rematch with another points loss.
Fury has had a remarkable career with standout wins against the likes of the formerly long-ruling puncher Wladimir Klitschko who he dethroned on away soil in 2015. He backed that up with a draw and then two conclusive knockout victories over another power puncher in American Deontay Wilder.
Following the Usyk losses, many hoped the natural next fight would be against British rival Anthony Joshua. Joshua is also without any world title belts having lost twice to Usyk and after failing to beat IBF champion Daniel Dubois last September.
Speaking to talkSPORT Boxing, Macthroom’s Barry Hearn gave his view that the retirement news was merely a negotiation tool.
“Someone said to me the other day, what I do think of Fury’s retirement and I said it sounded like $10m. He said what do you mean, and I said I think that’s the extra he wants. Maybe I’m being cynical, maybe he has fallen out of love with boxing.”
