Tyson Fury and His Retirement Intentions: Is the World Heavyweight Champion Exploiting ‘Retirement’ Tactic To Gain Attention?

Tyson Fury is an amusing character when it comes to his career choices. Despite wielding devastating power in his fists, he shares an on-off relationship with his retirement. The British boxer has flirted with the idea of retirement but has failed to commit to it for long. With fights against Francis Ngannou and Oleksandr Usyk scheduled next, the curiosity surrounding his retirement has piqued again.

While ‘The Gypsy King’ faces the former UFC champion in Riyadh on October 28, he will then endeavor to clinch undisputed heavyweight titles against Usyk. In the past, he has thrown the retirement card way too often. A similar scene might persist after his next two fights. If the fans have learned anything about his statements, the WBO champion is not to be taken seriously.

Tyson Fury: A Tale of Hiatus, Retirements, and Comebacks

The Manchester-born has terrorized the heavyweights and boasts of being a two-time world champion with an unblemished record. However, he has come under fire for abruptly cutting his boxing career short and then making a U-turn. The first such boomerang he threw was in 2013.

The 35-year-old hastily hung up his boxing gloves when David Haye postponed and subsequently canceled their fight. The second instance came when he had established himself at the pinnacle of boxing. Fury had defeated Wladimir Klitschko but, in 2016, sought time off the ring. Reason? His struggle with crippling mental health issues.

After 2 years and weighing 330 lbs, Fury made a resurgence that can be touted as one of the greatest comebacks in sports history. He worked his way through the ranks and clinched the heavyweight crown against Deontay Wilder. After flatlining Dillian Whyte at Wembley Stadium in front of 94,000 fans in April 2022, he fell back into his bad habit of romanticizing retirement.

After teasing a return against Derek Chisora, Fury assured that he wanted to say “bon voyage” on his 34th birthday. But only to come back to fight ‘Del Boy’ in December 2022. Therefore, Fury’s tumultuous boxing career has seen everything. Accolades, comebacks, and emotional moments, but also some fuzzy retirement intentions.

What to make of Tyson Fury’s retirement intentions?

The 33-0-1 record holder once dropped a hint about what pulls him towards the ring. Fury admitted in a conversation with Ring magazine, “I got bored with retirement. I had five months out the ring and I changed my mind.”

Likewise, he believes there is no purpose to his life except boxing. This is the reason the heavyweight boxer keeps cutting short his retirement. “Without boxing, I just felt I didn’t have any purpose in my life anymore,” Fury told BT Sport. “For the four months I was retired, I’ve never felt so back to 2015, 2016, 2017 ever before.”

Read More: “Hope You Pull a Madness on Fury”: Featuring $500 Million Icon Cristiano Ronaldo, Francis Ngannou’s Official Tyson Fury Fight Song Gets Fans All Hyped Up for Their Mega-Crossover Bout

Fury himself admits he doesn’t know how to quit, and boxing is the only thing keeping him sane. Meanwhile, the retirement-return loop is causing confusion for fans and rivals. But the British champion is determined not to go back.

Has Fury retired for good now? How long does he plan to fight?

Fury recently told ESPN that he is in for a long run and intends to sign a 10-fight deal. “I’m looking to sign another 10-fight deal after this. So I don’t know. I’m going to put my feelers out there. And see who I can get the best deal off for another 10 fights,” he said.

“This is all I’ve ever done and all that’s ever made me happy. So it’d be stupid now to walk away from it,” Fury added. Notably, Fury also signed a multi-fight deal with Top Rank in 2019. All signs hint at him not resorting to using retirement as an attention-grabbing design this time. However, Fury’s US-based promoter, Bob Arum, once remarked that the boxer’s retirement depended on the weather and how he woke up in the morning. Don’t be surprised if he calls it quits after the Usyk fight.

Watch This Story: Heated Moments From Tyson Fury And Francis Ngannou’s First Press Conference