Tyson Fury Says He'll Retire After Wladimir Klitschko Fight
World heavyweight champion Tyson Fury is once again talking about retirement, saying his bout with Wladimir Klitschko on July 9 in Manchester will be the final fight of his career.
Fury took to Twitter to explain his decision, saying he wants to spend more time with his family:
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"This is the reason I'm retiring after my next fight, to spend the my time with these guys,missing my kids get grow! pic.twitter.com/g4H13i4EV8
— Gypsy King (@Tyson_Fury) May 1, 2016"
The 27-year-old took the WBO, WBA, IBO and IBF belts from Klitschko in his last fight, ending the Ukrainian's long reign at the top of the division. He was later stripped of the IBF belt.
Per Jack de Menezes of the Independent, Fury told BBC Radio 5 Live he was prepared to "walk away" from a rematch back in February, as he was struggling to find his motivation.
Per Metro's Max Miller, Fury made similar statements on Saturday night while attending his cousin Hughie Fury's win over Fred Kassi in London:
"I’ve got two and a half stone to get off and I want to get on it.
It’s going to be my last fight. I think. S*** or bust. All or nothing. It’s going to be my last fight win, lose, or draw.
I just can’t be f***** with it. I’m so sick of it. I’ve got no motivation to carry it on.
"
Fury's road to the top of the heavyweight division has been a long and difficult one, as wins over then-undefeated prospect Dereck Chisora in 2011 and Kevin Johnson in 2012 didn't lead to big-money opponents. Per BBC Sport, a planned fight with David Haye in 2013 fell through, and it took Fury another year to put himself in position to contend for a title.
Things changed after he beat Chisora in a rematch in 2014, however, and his decision win over Klitschko, who hadn't lost a bout in more than a decade, per BoxRec, made Fury a household name and overnight star.
But while Fury's crazy antics and sharp tongue have increased his profile, he's hardly a popular champion. Per BBC Sport's Ben Dirs, Fury has talked about leaving Britain altogether and will go to a place where "champions are appreciated."
Per Richard Amofa of the Daily Telegraph, he has made headlines for a number of controversies, and his lack of popularity and the constant attention from the media can't be easy for him.
Boxing fans, particularly those in Britain, will be praying the lineal champion changes his mind, however. After years of one-sided bouts and a dominant champion in Klitschko, the heavyweight division suddenly looks exciting again.
Between Fury and Deontay Wilder, two big men are vying for the title of undisputed champion, and youngsters like Anthony Joshua and Joseph Parker aren't too far behind.
Joshua won his first world-title belt by knocking out IBF champion Charles Martin in April, setting up a dream scenario for promoter Eddie Hearn. The former Olympic gold medalist is hugely popular, and a bout between him and Fury could be one of the highest-grossing in British boxing history.
As shared by BoxNation, Fury took a shot at his compatriot during a press conference to promote his rematch with Klitschko:
Fury has threatened retirement before, and he opted against those plans in order to chase a lucrative second bout with Klitschko. While their rematch will likely make Fury enough money to set him up for life, it's hard to see him turn his back on fights with Joshua and Wilder at this stage of his career.
He has spent the better part of his career chasing top bouts and fighting on undercards, and his rise to stardom has been recent. Joshua, in particular, is a difficult fight to decline—the 26-year-old is still largely untested and has yet to prove his chin against a strong puncher.
Fury has never been an orthodox fighter, however, so don't be shocked if he does say goodbye to the sport after his rematch with Klitschko.
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