“King of Gangsters” Fury retires, misses $150 million match with Joshua

Tyson Fury, the heavyweight boxing legend nicknamed “King of the Gangsters”, has just announced his sudden retirement on Monday (January 13), shocking the boxing world. This decision was announced by Fury through a short video sent to fans, just hours after the news that the Wembley stadium stands were booked for the historic match between him and Anthony Joshua.

Shocking announcement
In the video, Fury briefly shared: “Hey everyone, I’ll be brief. I would like to announce my retirement from boxing. This has been an amazing journey, and I’ve loved every minute of it. I wish everyone the best. See you on the other side.”

Fury’s decision was made just weeks after his defeat to Oleksandr Usyk in a rematch for the heavyweight championship. This was Fury’s second consecutive loss to the Ukrainian boxer, causing many to doubt his ability to continue his career.

Plans for ‘Battle of Britain’ go up in smoke

The Tyson Fury-Anthony Joshua fight, dubbed the ‘Battle of Britain’, was supposed to be the biggest boxing event in British history. Wembley Stadium had been booked for the fight, according to Matchroom boss Eddie Hearn.

However, with Fury’s decision to retire, all plans have been scrapped. Organizers had previously estimated that a Fury-Joshua fight could have brought in $150 million in revenue.

“I think it’s up to Fury. But now it looks like it’s never going to happen,” Hearn told Sky Sports.

Goodbye or just a break?

This isn’t the first time Fury has announced his retirement. In 2015, after his victory over Wladimir Klitschko, he put his career on hold. In 2022, Fury also announced his retirement after a fight with Dillian Whyte, but quickly returned and defeated Derek Chisora ​​later that year.

Boxing fans are still wondering whether this is really the end of the “Gypsy King”‘s glorious career, or just another “retirement” based on the star’s temporary feelings. Promoter Frank Warren, Fury’s agent, said: “I hope Tyson is happy and satisfied with life. If he decides to come back, I will support him wholeheartedly.”

Fury ended a career with a huge legacy, with many world championships, memorable fights, and a unique style in the ring. Although his decision to retire left many regrets, the legacy that “King of the Gang” left behind will certainly live forever in the hearts of boxing fans around the world.