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Boxing Fans Question Tyson Fury's Retirement Video amid Anthony Joshua Fight Buzz

Joseph Zucker@@JosephZuckerX.com LogoFeatured Columnist IVJanuary 13, 2025

RIYADH, SAUDI ARABIA - DECEMBER 21: Tyson Fury reacts following defeat in the IBF, IBO, WBA, WBC and WBO Undisputed World Heavyweight titles' fight between Oleksandr Usyk and Tyson Fury as part of Oleksandr Usyk v Tyson Fury 2, Reignited card at Kingdom Arena on December 21, 2024 in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. (Photo by Richard Pelham/Getty Images)
Richard Pelham/Getty Images

Boxing fans are questioning whether they've seen the last of Tyson Fury after he announced his retirement from the sport.

Fury posted a video on social media Monday saying he's walking away from the sport.

DAZN Boxing @DAZNBoxing

Tyson Fury announces his RETIREMENT from boxing 🤯<br><br>Some career from the Gypsy King 👏<br><br>🎥 <a href="https://twitter.com/Tyson_Fury?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@Tyson_Fury</a> <a href="https://t.co/9dEKKepRXA">pic.twitter.com/9dEKKepRXA</a>

The announcement comes as a long-rumored bout between the 36-year-old and Anthony Joshua began to gain steam again. He also said he was retiring in 2022, only to extend his career.

Not surprisingly, there's plenty of skepticism about whether this retirement will stick:

Richard Carroll @RichC101

Load of bollocks, just pricing himself up for the AJ fight. 'If I come out of retirement for the 18th time it needs to be for £100m'

Packer M @Packer_an

So he retires without fighting AJ 🤔 😐 😳

Simon @SG_EFC

Joshua tells him the public want to see the fight.. Fury response is to retire, which actually means going to have to pay me more money if you want me to fight.. 😂

Mike...nffc @nffcalways1

No chance he's retiring (even though he should) it's all about the show and remaining in the media spotlight

Rob 🐺 @ManWolfNYC

He'll be back like always lol

Mike Crisp @mike82chips

2 thoughts.... 100% not retired and there was no robbery ffs

K @crodeinecrazy

Incoming Fury vs AJ announcement in 2 months

Amit Champaneri @AmitChampaneri1

Will be reversed in the next week or so…

Jay @Jruss2389

<a href="https://t.co/mdGW5wRwKW">pic.twitter.com/mdGW5wRwKW</a>

Promoter Eddie Hearn, who represents Joshua, reacted in earnest to Fury's retirement but added it would be a "natural play" if a boxer wanted to strengthen his leverage in negotiations for a major fight.

Matchroom Boxing @MatchroomBoxing

🗣️ <a href="https://twitter.com/EddieHearn?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">@EddieHearn</a> reacts to the Tyson Fury retirement news... <a href="https://t.co/lzAfgdPKUm">pic.twitter.com/lzAfgdPKUm</a>

Fury also left the world to read between the lines when he said "Dick Turpin wore a mask."

Turpin, who lived in the 18th century, became a British legend for his exploits as a robber and thief. The phrase "at least Dick Turpin wore a mask" gained wider usage and came to represent the fact Turpin would wear a mask for his robberies. The implication is that someone is robbing you more openly.

It's anybody's guess as to who Fury had in mind with the remark.

"The Gypsy King" has pretty well cemented his legacy in the ring at this point.

He's one of the greatest heavyweights of his generation. Losing back-to-back fights to Oleksandr Usyk doesn't really change that, nor would beating Joshua burnish his profile too much. Joshua, who also has a pair of defeats to Usyk, suffered a fifth-round knockout at the hands of Daniel Dubois in September.

Because of that, Fury could plausibly leave boxing behind. But a headline bout with Joshua would be a massive draw, one that will be tough to pass up.