Boxing superstar Tyson Fury has denied retiring any time soon, instead putting forward an impressive five-fight plan, which includes a few showdowns against fellow Brit Anthony Joshua.
Unconfirmed doubts about an eye issue, causing his fight against Oleksandr Usyk to postpone to May 18, sparked rumours of Fury’s potential retirement. Carl Froch was one of several big names in boxing suggesting that Fury could walk away from the fight and retire. But Fury, who’s often teased retiring in the past, confirmed his commitment to face Usyk in Saudi Arabia for a chance at all four major world titles.
The boxing legend plans to have a rematch with Usyk, another world heavyweight title fight, and then likely fight Joshua and then end with a second fight against Francis Ngannou.
Fury responded to retirement talk on Instagram, while showing his stitched eye, saying: “I ain’t retiring I’ve got two fights with Usyk for the undisputed, twice.” He then sent a message directly to British rival Joshua confirming that he still wanted to fight him. He continued: “Then I’m going to fight AJ at least once, maybe twice, if there’s a rematch if he wants one after the first battering I give him. Then I’m going to fight Ngannou again.”
Fury promised, “That’s just the start. There’s five fights for you to whet your appetite. I ain’t going nowhere; I’m 35-years-old and in the prime of my life.”
In his latest fight in October, Fury (34-0-1, 24KOs) was knocked down but managed to secure a controversial split-points win over Ngannou, who was boxing professionally for the first time.
Just two weeks before a highly anticipated match against Usyk, Fury had to cancel due to a cut above his right eye from training that needed “significant stitching”.
However, event organisers have quickly rescheduled the match between WBC champion Fury and WBA, IBF and WBO title holder Usyk, which will determine the first undisputed heavyweight champion of the four-belt era.