Tyson Fury, the British heavyweight boxing champion, announced his retirement from the sport this week following two of the most significant upsets of his career in 2024, both against Ukrainian boxer Oleksandr Usyk. In a short Instagram video, Fury, known as “The Gypsy King,” addressed his fans with a brief message: “Hi everybody, I’ll make this short and sweet. I’d like to announce my retirement from boxing. It’s been a blast, and I’ve loved every single minute of it.”
This announcement comes after his December 2024 rematch with Usyk, where the Ukrainian successfully defended his unified title in a thrilling 12-round bout that ended in a unanimous decision. Fury was visibly frustrated by the loss, calling Usyk’s victory a “Christmas present.” Now at 36 years old, Fury appears firm in his decision to retire, acknowledging his age as a contributing factor.
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However, speculation has risen about the possibility of Fury returning to the ring for a massive $600 million (£500 million) payday before officially stepping away from the sport. This rumor aligns with Fury’s previous statements about wanting to become the first heavyweight to secure such a sum. Fans remain skeptical of his retirement, given Fury’s history of announcing retirements only to return for lucrative fights.
Addressing these rumors, His Excellency Turki Alalshikh, head of Riyadh Season, dismissed the notion of such a payout during a conversation with the team at talkSPORT. He stated, “Having a lot of rumors doesn’t help us and makes us look like fools. No one will propose 500 million to do any fights. This is not a correct number. No one is doing something like this.”
Fury’s aspiration for such a payday has been part of his narrative for years. In 2022, he first mentioned his goal of earning £500 million, particularly when there were discussions about facing either Anthony Joshua or Oleksandr Usyk. Despite his efforts to achieve this milestone and become the undisputed heavyweight champion of the four-belt era, Fury fell short after losing his first bout against Usyk in May 2024 via a split decision.
The rumors about Fury’s demands have reignited comparisons to other heavyweight legends, including Mike Tyson. In 2024, Mike Tyson made headlines for his $500 million demand to return to the ring, which came to light ahead of his exhibition match against Jake Paul in November 2024. This fight marked Mike Tyson’s first appearance in the ring since his 2020 exhibition bout with Roy Jones Jr.
There was once potential for a matchup between Tyson Fury and Mike Tyson, but negotiations fell apart due to Mike Tyson’s hefty financial expectations. Fury himself confirmed this in a 2024 interview, explaining that while he had discussions with Mike Tyson’s team, the proposed payouts were far lower than the $500 million figure Tyson was seeking. Ultimately, a $10 million offer from ESPN for an exhibition match was declined, and both fighters have since moved on from the idea.
The boxing world remains divided on whether Fury’s retirement is genuine or another tactic to secure a higher payday. With his history of returning after previous retirements, many fans and analysts believe Fury may be tempted back into the ring for the right price.