Tyson Fury has opened 2025 with another retirement announcement, just weeks after losing his second straight fight against Oleksandr Usyk for heavyweight gold.
“The Gypsy King,” who was quiet during The Ring Awards this past weekend, posted a video on social media announcing the end of his long career.
“Hi everybody. I’m going to make this short and sweet: I’d like to announce my retirement from boxing,” Fury said. “It’s been a blast, I’ve loved every single minute of it, and I’m going to end with this: Dick Turpin wore a mask. God bless everybody, see you on the other side.”
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The former WBC and Ring heavyweight champion lost against Usyk in May 2024 to determine the first undisputed heavyweight champion since 1999. He got knocked down in the first fight and lost via split decision. Fury lost the rematch in December via unanimous decision.
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Not long after, it was thought the former English, European, and British heavyweight champion would finally fight Anthony Joshua, who got knocked out by Daniel Dubois in September. Turki Alalshikh named that one of his dream fights, and Joshua teased during The Ring Awards that it has some legs if he’s talking about it.
“Every time I see people – the Irish community, the English community, the Nigerian community – everyone is asking me the same question. So as a fighter, it’s up to me to deliver,” Joshua said. “It has to happen this year, especially with His Excellency – Turki – DAZN, Eddie [Hearn], Matchroom, 258 [Management] behind me, and I’m sure with him [Fury] being managed by Spencer [Brown] and Goldstar now, I think we can definitely make this fight happen.”
Matchroom Boxing’s Eddie Hearn even said he had reserved Wembley Stadium for the fight, which both seemingly wanted. The Fury announcement may put a wedge in those plans.
“If you haven’t got the heart for it anymore and you don’t wanna compete anymore, I think retirement is the best option,” Hearn said following the announcement. “It’s disappointing obviously for British fight fans, because we’ve got a chance to make the biggest fight in boxing. But if that is the last we see of him, he’s had a great career. I doubt it. But, it’s always best to come into retirement to make sure someone pays you to come out of retirement. But if that’s his lot, much respect to him and wish him all the best.
“I just think if I was looking for the right deal, I’d go into retirement too. But I can’t speak on his behalf… It’s a natural play.”
?️ @EddieHearn reacts to the Tyson Fury retirement news… pic.twitter.com/lzAfgdPKUm
— Matchroom Boxing (@MatchroomBoxing) January 13, 2025
How many times has Tyson Fury retired?
It is not the first time Fury has called it quits. In fact, he has “retired” almost as many times as Terry Funk and Conor McGregor.
The 36-year-old “retired” in 2013 after a fight with David Haye got pulled.
“Just to confirm I’m not in a bad mood or anything. I’ve retired 1000000% no matter what I’ll never fight again!”
Just to confirm I’m not in a bad mood or anything. I’ve retired 1000000% no matter what ill never fight again! pic.twitter.com/dqrkhsFcN2
— TYSON FURY (@Tyson_Fury) November 20, 2013
After beating Wladimir Klitschko in 2015 to become the unified heavyweight champion, he relinquished the belts due to mental health issues and drug and alcohol abuse, taking a break from boxing to go with a suspension. Fury called a retirement post “a prank” in 2016, one of the first times many believed the claim.
In 2017, Fury announced his retirement while waiting for a date for his U.K. Anti-Doping (UKAD)hearing. This was due to the British Boxing Board of Control (BBBofC) proclaiming he was still suspended when attempting a comeback.
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“Been very blessed in my life & career achieve the upmost [sic] in boxing, was an epic journey along the way,” Fury said. “Thanks to all the fans that supported & believed in me along the way. Hope you enjoy [sic] it as much as I did. THE END.”
UKAD, Fury, and the BBBofC agreed to resolve the issue, and he was re-instated in 2018.
Fury called it a career in April 2022 after he beat Dillian Whyte to defend the WBC heavyweight title. It was short-lived, as Fury went off on social media tirades calling out everyone in August, from Joshua to Thor Bjornsson to Francis Ngannou, the latter he eventually fought. Though he relinquished The Ring belt, Fury returned in December, beating Derek Chisora a third time.
While it could be a legitimate retirement, it may also be a ploy to up the ante for a fight against Joshua. Despite their recent losses, Fury vs. Joshua is still one of the biggest fights not to have happened in boxing. Fury and Alalshikh are close, and money always talks. The former could wait things out before “returning” for an epic clash between British heavyweight greats.
For now, Fury has dropped the first chess move. How will the rest of the game go?