LONDON, ENGLAND – MARCH 01: Tyson Fury speaks to the media during the Tyson Fury v Dillian Whyte press conference at Wembley Stadium on March 01, 2022 in London, England. (Photo by James Chance/Getty Images)
Tyson Fury Announces Retirement After Dillian Whyte Bout in April 2022
By Robert Brizel, Head Real Combat Media Boxing Correspondent
“This is the final fight of my career. I am retiring after this,” said Tyson Fury yesterday. Lineal and World Boxing Council World Heavyweight champion Tyson “The Gypsy King” Fury, 30-0-1 with 22 knockouts, Henderson, Nevada, by way of Manchester, Lancashire, England, has announced his official retirement after his title defense on April 23, 2022, at Wembley Stadium in Wembley London against Jamaican born top contender Dillian Whyte, 28-2 with 19 knockouts, Brixton, London, England.
According to the eccentric, flamboyant and colorful Fury “This is the final fight of my career. I am retiring after this. I’ll have 150 million pounds in the bank, still be healthy, young and good-looking. I am going to buy a massive yacht abroad to go with the supercars and properties I have all over the world. I am going to sit back with a hot blonde and a pina colada thinking you know what, I f***king made it. Boom! I’ll sling some baby oil on and get a tan, that’s what world champions do.”
If “The Gypsy King” makes good on his intention, and really does officially retire after the Whyte bout, he will have passed on a titular unification match with WBA WBO IBF and IBO World Heavyweight champion Oleksandr Usyk (currently home in Ukraine during the Russian Federation versus Ukraine military war, jeopardizing his rematch pending with Anthony Joshua), and matches with Anthony Joshua, Luis Ortiz, Andy Ruiz Jr. and all other contenders which might have proven interesting matches.
Rocky Marciano got out at 32 years old. Fury will be retiring at age 33 with his faculties intact if he gets by Dillian Whyte. Good luck in retirement, Tyson Fury, who could always also change his mind if the money is right in the future. George Foreman came back at an advanced age and regained the World Heavyweight title. Smokin’ Joe Frazier’s last comeback attempt ended in a t10 round draw. James Jeffries got knocked out by Jack Johnson in a failed attempt to regain the title. Larry Holmes, who made 20 title defenses, lost his last five attempts to regain the title. Joe Louis lost to Ezzard Charles and Rocky Marciano.
Floyd Patterson lost to Muhammad Ali. Primo Carnera lost his last three bouts to Luigi Messina, and became a pro wrestler, like Joe Louis. Riddick Bowe tried wrestling and lost. Michael Spinks lost to Mike Tyson. Gerrie Coetzee lost to Iran Barkley. Mike Weaver lost to Larry Holmes. Neon Leon Spinks lost to Fred Houpe. Greg Page lost to Dale Crowe. Michael “Dynamite” Dokes lost to Paul Phillips and Louis Monaco before going to jail. Alexander Povetkin lost to Dillian Whyte. Hasim Rahman lost a three round decision to 3-3 Anthony Nansen in the notorious Australian Super 8 Tournament. Ernie Terrell lost in the first round to Jeff Merritt. Jersey Joe Walcott lost in the first round to Rocky Marciano. John Ruiz lost to David Haye. David Haye lost twice to Tony Bellew. Mike Tyson lost to Kevin McBride. Nicolai Valuev lost to David Haye. Evander Holyfield got stopped in the first round of a boxing exhibition against a UFC ex-champion in 2021. Alexander Povetkin got stopped by Dillian White. Jimmy Ellis had won only one of his last seven bouts, getting stopped by Joe Frazier, before defeating Carl Baker in his final bout in 1975. Jack Dempsey lost to Gene Tunney. Max Schmeling lost a 10 round decision to Richard Vogt. Among active ex-champions, Charles Martin got stopped by Luis Ortiz, Deontay Wilder lost to Tyson Fury, Andy Ruiz Jr. lost to Anthony Joshua, and Anthony Joshua lost to Oleksandr Usyk. Gentleman Jim Corbett lost to James Jeffries. John L. Sullivan lost to Gentleman Jim Corbett. Muhammad Ali lost to Trevor Berbick.
The idea behind this partial list of former world heavyweight champions in the final bout abstract analogy is there is a line beyond which fighters beyond their limits must decide to cross or not at a crossroads point in their careers. As such, Tyson Fury has made a decision to end his career on top. If he reverses his decision, a bout with the winner of the rematch between Oleksandr Usyk and Dillian Whyte, if enough money is placed on the table, could lure him back for one more bout. Fury’s retirement also opens the door for Deontay Wilder to return in an attempt to regain a share of the title, perhaps against another former champion, Andy Ruiz Jr., Otto Wallin, Joseph Parker, Joy Joyce, the winner of Felip Hrgovic versus Zhilei Zhang, the winner of Daniel Dubois versus Trevor Bryan, Michael Hunter, Hughie Fury, or any of the other top contenders now entrenched in the heavyweight mix in 2022 and 2023.
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