Tyson Fury exclusively deals with shock and excitement so perhaps his dramatic retirement announcement should not have caught people by surprise earlier this week.
Less than one month on from his second loss to Oleksandr Usyk , it appears his significant series with the mercurial Ukrainian will be the final acts of an extraordinary career that has thrilled sport fans for the best part of 17 years.
Others watching the brief video confirming his exit may not be convinced of its sincerity and legitimacy. But in the interviews that followed, from those professionally closest to Fury, it appears that this time, different from the rest, Fury’s stroll into the sunset could be one where he does not look back.
Retirement announcements and Fury have been one of boxing’s most consistent themes in the modern era, with the former two-time heavyweight champion then only to go back on his original statements of intent.
A fine ruler of the division he took over in 2015, Fury’s time on top has never been plain sailing.
The conqueror of the seemingly immortal Wladimir Klitschko, Fury’s first flirt with championship glory was a peak for British boxing and the catalyst for an unprecedented era where high-profile title fights were fought for on both sides of the Atlantic with mainstream Englishman occupying the grandest stages.
Along with Anthony Joshua, Fury’s eternal rival who he now may never fight, Fury applied colour to an ailing division that had largely been restricted to Eastern Europe.
Despite a lengthy hiatus from the sport following his Klitschko win nine years ago, Fury, awash with personal addiction issues and incredible weight gain, never seemed firmly out of the sport. His 2018 comeback would be the platform for his career to go to an altogether different level.
An incredible trilogy with Deontay Wilder, one littered with stunning turnarounds from both fighters, became one of boxing’s most storied feuds. It took Fury’s standing in the sport to a place where most fighters only dream of going.
Fury was now as big as the sport he participated in. Documentaries would follow. Netflix profiled his entire family. WWE cashed in on his reputation as the world’s best heavyweight alongside his gargantuan stature. And there was also the launch of his own energy drink.
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Itches still needed to be scratched though and although Klitschko and Wilder had fell by the wayside, Joshua and Usyk remained. For Fury to be truly remembered like the greats he knows so much about, victory over both was required.
That did not come against Usyk, as Fury was unable to sustain any momentum over the 24 rounds. Even though he did find small glimmers of hope that unsettled the current lineal champion.
Even in defeat to Usyk, Fury knew he had a fight with Joshua to fall back on. But now it appears that contest is as far away as it ever was with Eddie Hearn, Joshua’s promoter, now admitting they are looking at other options for the Watford man.
A Fury sized hole would be a difficult gap to fill in any heavyweight era, but how will the enigmatic showman be remembered for what he contributed to the sport he has dedicated the vast majority of his life to.
Always judged in and out of the ring
Has this been a golden era for heavyweights? Although not the early 1970s or 1990s, following on from the Brothers Klitschko dominance would have come easy for some fighters, and Fury certainly fits that mould.
Accompanied by Wilder, Joshua, and Usyk, these four men, along with a decent supporting cast, made heavyweight boxing a global attraction for the first time in a long time.
Los Angeles, Las Vegas, Saudi Arabia, and the footballing cathedrals of Europe all played host to world title fights during Fury’s reign, and without him, it is hard to imagine those prestigious nights taking place.
He was not always flavour of the month due to numerous outlandish statements and unorthodox press conference antics. But unless it was against Usyk, Fury backed up his boasts where it mattered most and that was inside the ring.
The last 18 months have not been kind to him from both a professional and personal standpoint, and that may factor in why this retirement may feel different to others.
Sluggish against Francis Ngannou in 2023, injuries in fight camps, and the tragic miscarriage endured by his wife before the first Usyk fight will surely have weighed heavily on Fury. Although he has demonstrated superhero resilience in the past, it is difficult to keep showing it, especially as he is getting older.
A video tribute from Queensberry Promotions, who played a masterful role in his road to recovery, adds further evidence that Fury’s time could be up. Their heartwarming gratefulness for Fury’s impact will not be shared by all.
Some will hit out at the fact his decade long spat with Joshua never reached a natural conclusion. Others will point to his three-year absence that saw a Klitschko rematch thwarted.
Then there will be those who just cannot bring themselves to praise Fury due to his controversial views on sensitive subjects.
Judging purely on his professional accomplishments inside the ring, Fury should have no issues entering the Boxing Hall of Fame when the time arrives thanks to his daring heist in Germany and one of the all-time great trilogies against Wilder.
Fury, in typical fashion, may tell you he was the best heavyweight of all time when the dust settles on his career.
Although that claim will irk the most mild-mannered of boxing historians, Fury would not be out of his depth either today or even 50 years ago.
Golden eras rarely follow golden eras in the heavyweight division, so some need to be careful before wishing Fury good riddance.
It could be a very long time before boxing is exposed to such a big character with an even bigger heart, and for that, Fury undoubtedly deserves thanks
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