Tyson Fury has announced his retirement from boxing for the fourth time following his December defeat to Oleksandr Usyk.
The Gypsy King lost by unanimous decision in their rematch, with all three judges scoring the bout 116-112 in favour of the Ukrainian champion.
The defeat marked Fury's second loss to Usyk in seven months. Their first encounter in May 2024 saw Usyk claim victory by split decision.
Despite hanging up his gloves once again, the 36-year-old heavyweight's retirement announcement has been met with familiar scepticism from boxing observers who have witnessed his previous returns to the ring.
Tyson Fury is a happy man in retirement, WBC president Mauricio Sulaiman said
Reuters
WBC president Mauricio Sulaiman has maintained regular contact with Fury since the retirement announcement and offered insight into the fighter's state of mind.
"I call him regularly and he said: 'Oh I'm so happy, retired, I'm here with my wife,'" Sulaiman told Sky Sports this week.
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However, the WBC chief revealed that beneath Fury's claims of contentment lies lingering frustration.
"He told me he was not happy with the decision in the second fight with Usyk," he said.
"He's still very bitter about the judges' scoring and he was very upset but he was retired, that's what he said."
Sulaiman acknowledged the possibility of another comeback, referencing The Godfather: "Maybe we'll hear him say: 'Just when I thought I was out, they pull me back in!' We don't know."
Fury's actions have contradicted his retirement claims in recent months.
In April, he reunited with trainer SugarHill Steward at the gym, posting a video with the teasing caption: "You know what's coming."
The former champion has maintained an intensive training regime, revealing he's been completing twice-daily sessions.
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Tyson Fury has been enjoying retirement with his wife
InstagramHe has regularly shared his workout routines on social media, demonstrating his continued dedication to fitness.
These gym activities have inevitably fuelled speculation about a potential return to the ring.
The sight of Fury back in training with his long-time coach has prompted questions about whether his fourth retirement will prove as temporary as the previous three.
The prospect of a long-awaited showdown with Anthony Joshua remains a tantalising possibility. Promoter Eddie Hearn recently outlined how the "Battle of Britain" could become reality.
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Reuters"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 explained.
With Joshua still eager for the clash that has eluded British boxing fans for years, the decision rests entirely with Fury.
Whether the Gypsy King's bitterness over the Usyk defeat and his continued training will lead to a fifth comeback remains to be seen.
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