Tyson Fury has officially announced his retirement from boxing, which means a highly anticipated match with British rival Anthony Joshua will never come to fruition. This decision comes shortly after Joshua expressed the urgency of the fight happening in 2025.
The possibility of Fury vs. Joshua happening has been extinguished, unless, of course, the former heavyweight champion decides to come out of retirement once again. This marks the fifth time Fury has retired from the sport, but it’s hard to believe it’s final for the former WBC titleholder.
In a message to his fans, Fury said, “Thanks, it’s been a blast. Thanks to everyone who helped out along the way!
“Happy New Year!”
Tyson Fury confirms his retirement, meaning a fight with Anthony Joshua will NEVER happen.
Unless, of course, the ex-heavyweight champion unretires again.
Fury said, “Thanks, it’s been a blast. Thanks to everyone who helped out along the way!
“Happy New Year!”
🎥 Tyson Fury pic.twitter.com/5obRSR1WWW
— World Boxing News (@WorldBoxingNews) January 13, 2025
During the Ring Magazine Awards in London, Joshua made a plea to Fury for the match to take place this year. Fury, however, chose to avoid the ceremony altogether.
While speaking to the media at the event, Joshua expressed his desire for the fight to happen, stating, “It’s a fight I want to see because I am a fan of boxing. When I am in the gym, everyone is asking me [about this fight]. I ain’t got many years ahead of me. I want to leave the game with a bang and make an impact.
“Everyone is asking me the same question. It’s up to me to deliver, that’s why I’m saying it has to happen this year. I think we can make this fight happen.”
With Fury now retiring, fans in the UK who were eagerly anticipating the bout will be left disappointed, as there was limited interest outside of the British Isles. The match between Fury and Joshua failed to capture the attention of a wider audience, especially after both fighters suffered losses to Oleksandr Usyk.
Furthermore, the delay in making the fight happen resulted in a missed opportunity to hold the event at Wembley Stadium, as Fury has put an end to any possibility of it occurring.
The responsibility now falls on Saudi Arabian Chairman Turki Alalshikh to convince his favored fighter to continue competing for a lucrative paycheck.
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Explore all articles and exclusive interviews by Phil Jay, an experienced boxing writer and the Editor of World Boxing News since 2010. Follow on Twitter @PhilJWBN.
