- Tyson Fury retired for a fourth time after losing his rematch with Oleksandr Usyk
- All three judges scored December’s fight 116-112 in favour of champion Usyk
- Usyk had beaten Fury by split decision in their first fight seven months earlier
Tyson Fury insists he’s retired – but that doesn’t mean he’s at peace.
The Gypsy King has kept in regular contact with WBC president Mauricio Sulaiman since hanging up his gloves for the fourth time following his second defeat by Oleksandr Usyk in December last year.
And while Fury is adamant he’s done with boxing, it’s clear the decision in that rematch — when all three judges called the fight 116-112 to Usyk — still stings.
Sulaiman told Sky Sports this week: ‘I call him regularly and he said: “Oh I’m so happy, retired, I’m here with my wife.”
‘He didn’t hint whatsoever that he was planning on coming back.
‘He told me he was not happy with the decision in the second fight with Usyk. He’s still very bitter about the judges’ scoring and he was very upset but he was retired, that’s what he said.’
Tyson Fury, pictured earlier this month at Soccer Aid, is sticking to his guns about retirement
Fury retired for a fourth time after losing his rematch with Oleksandr Usyk (left) in December
Mauricio Sulaiman, pictured with Fury in 2023, remains in regular contact with the Gypsy King
It’s a glimpse into the mindset of a fighter who has danced with retirement almost as often as he has with his rivals in the ring.
Fury may claim he is content to be out of the sport, but the frustration of that unanimous points loss is a reminder that the fire still burns.
Even Sulaiman can’t rule out a comeback, adding: ‘Maybe like in The Godfather, the movie, maybe we’ll hear him say: “Just when I thought I was out, they pull me back in!” We don’t know…’
Despite Fury’s insistence that he is retired, the heavyweight division continues to buzz with speculation about another comeback.
In April, Fury linked back up with trainer SugarHill Steward in the gym, filming himself and teasing: ‘You know what’s coming.’
He has also revealed he’s been enjoying twice-daily training sessions and sharing his love of working out on social media.
With Anthony Joshua still waiting for that long-awaited ‘Battle of Britain’ clash, promoter Eddie Hearn recently admitted the ball was firmly in Fury’s court.
‘The way that fight gets made is probably Tyson reaches out to AJ and says, “Mate, do you fancy it?” And he’ll go, “100 per cent, let’s f***ing do it,” Hearn said.
