‘Hand on Heart Swear to God in Jesus’ Name I Meant Retirement’: Tyson Fury Reveals Why He Did Not Want to Return after His Final Bout with Deontay Wilder

The trilogy between WBC heavyweight champion Tyson Fury and former champion Deontay Wilder was one for the ages. The two first fought in 2018  with the match ending in a draw, leaving fans hungry for more. Naturally, a rematch was held in February 2020, which saw Fury beating ‘The Bronze Bomber’ in the seventh round via TKO. However, the story didn’t end there.

The two fighters competed in the ring for the third time in 2o21 in what was one of the best fights in modern boxing. Once again, the two boxers put on a show for the ages. The fight showcased Fury’s boxing skills and Wilder’s devastating power. It was a grueling battle that ended with Fury emerging victorious. However, following the intense trilogy ‘The Gypsy King’ surprised the boxing world by announcing his retirement just after a single fight against Dillain Whyte but his retirement turned out to be short-lived. Following his hiatus, Fury made a comeback, facing Derek Chisora and beating him convincingly. Now, the WBC champion is gearing up to face former UFC heavyweight champion Francis Ngannou. Despite this, Fury spoke honestly about his desire to step away from the sport, after his third fight against Wilder.

The struggles of Tyson Fury after facing Deontay Wilder

In a recent appearance on the High-Performance Podcast, Fury claimed that the physical toll the Wilder fights had taken on him was a significant factor in his contemplating retirement. Moreover, he vividly described the aftermath of the battles, expressing concerns about potential brain injuries.

“This was genuine, hand on heart, swear to God, in Jesus’ name, I meant retirement. I did not want to box. In fact, I don’t want to box now. I’m gonna get to that in a minute. I did not want to fight anymore. Like, I wanted to retire after Wilder  three. Like, coming out of that ring and feeling like I was gonna have a brain injury and lumps inside of my head like fists.” said Fury.

Fury’s transparency about his thoughts on retirement highlights his commitment to his own health and underscores the importance of prioritizing the well-being of athletes. In addition, he also touched up the episodes of memory loss he had following his battle with Wilder.

Tyson Fury’s memory loss following his third fight with Wilder

Later in the interview, ‘The Gypsy King’ revealed that he also had some form of memory loss after this fight. The heavyweight champion disclosed his inability to recall any details, including the number of times he was knocked down in the bout. Additionally, Fury recounted a moment in Las Vegas where he couldn’t identify the hotel he was staying in or his location.

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“I had memory loss? Couldn’t remember anything. Didn’t know how many times I’ve been down, didn’t know the first time. Didn’t know where I was. I was in Vegas. I didn’t know what hotel I was in, didn’t know where I was staying. Nothing.” said Fury.

These revelations depict the severity of the situation and raise concerns about the potential long-term effects of boxing on cognitive health. In addition, as Fury continues his boxing journey, it is crucial that the focus remains not only on his remarkable talent and achievements but also on the importance of prioritizing health and well-being.

What did you think about Fury contemplating retirement after his third fight with Wilder? Let us know in the comments.

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