Tyson Fury Reacts to Updated Heavyweight Rankings: “I Gave Up the Ring Belt…”

The Ring Magazine has just updated its heavyweight rankings. Tyson Fury, who once held the magazine’s belt, has also found himself atop the list. In response to the new rankings, the fighter had some sticking remarks to make.

‘The Gypsy King’ has assumed the first position on the rankings, with his Ukrainian counterpart, and unified champion of the weight class, Oleksandr Usyk continuing his reign as the Ring magazine champion. Come May 18, the belt will be up for grabs yet again, as both the giants will clash to decide the first four-belt era undisputed champion of the heavyweight class. While the Ring magazine belt will not contribute to that status for Fury, it’ll be crucial to bag it. Why? History resides in it.

The Gypsy King is crazy

As soon as Ring Magazine dropped their updated heavyweight rankings list, the Lancashire-based fighter made his feelings regarding it abundantly clear. On his Instagram stories, posting a screengrab of the updated rankings, he noted, “Im the craziest MF out there i gave ring belt so i could win it three times haha.” Boxing reporter, Michael Benson archived the story on his X profile. Following Fury, in the second position, was Anthony Joshua, with Kiwi fighter, Joseph Parker, assuming the third position.

In November 2015, Fury was awarded the belt for the first time after his upset victory over Wladimir Klitschko. He also bagged the WBA (Super), IBF, WBO, and IBO belts in the same Germany-based showdown. After which he vacated all his belts and went into retirement. Five years down the line, back from his retirement, in 2020, he was crowned the Ring Magazine heavyweight champion for a second time after his 7th-round knockout victory over Deontay Wilder. 

However, despite never losing the title to anyone, the fighter again vacated it.

Why did Tyson Fury vacate the Ring Magazine Belt?

After defending it twice against the challenge of the ‘Bronze Bomber’ and fellow English fighter, Dillian Whyte, Tyson Fury vacated the belt in August 2022. The decision was premeditated as the fighter was aiming to fight Oleksandr Usyk at that point. However, ongoing was a clash between ‘The Cat’ and Londoner, Anthony Joshua, who was the unified champion back then.

Once vacated, Usyk and ‘AJ’ were in line to fight for the Ring Belt. After two lethal matchups in 2021-22 between them, Usyk not only stripped the Londoner of his existing IBF/IBO/WBA/WBO belts but also took over the vacant Ring Magazine Belt. Speaking on why he took the decision, Fury in an old interview explained, “I gave that belt up, so that they could fight for it… Do you know why? Because I’m gonna become a three-time heavyweight Ring Magazine champion of the world.”

After having won it twice already, in his upcoming fight against Usyk, if he wins, he will emerge the Ring magazine champion for a third time. His confidence to do so is evident as he declared to do so not just now, but years ago as well.

Also Read: Boxing Rankings: Anthony Joshua Remains Unaffected, Joseph Parker Moves Past Zhilei Zhang in Recent Top 10 Heavyweight List

Who do you think will win? Take your picks in the comments section below.