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Tyson Fury has, not for the first time, announced his retirement from the boxing ring. But is this really the end of the road for the “Gypsy King”?

The towering 36-year-old British heavyweight called it a day on Monday, just weeks after his second straight defeat by Ukraine’s Oleksandr Usyk in Saudi Arabia.

“Hi everybody, I’m going to make this short and sweet,” he said in a post on social media, apparently filmed inside a vehicle.

Anthony Joshua could return to Wembley for Oleksandr Usyk fight after  undisputed world title clash with Tyson Fury fell apart | Boxing News | Sky  Sports

“I’d like to announce my retirement from boxing, it has been a blast, I’ve loved every single minute of it.”

Fury enjoyed two stints as the heavyweight world champion and retires with a record of 34 wins, two defeats and one draw.

That is if he stays retired.

Fury has previously announced his exit on a number of occasions, most recently in April 2022.

But they all turned out to be short-term absences from the ring and many pundits are sceptical that this really is the end.

Tyson Fury ignored Anthony Joshua’s challenge over the weekend by opting out of a star-studded boxing awards ceremony.

The Ring Magazine event in London saw the who’s who of boxing gather, but Fury was notably absent despite his first bout with Oleksandr Usyk being honoured as the event of the year.

Tyson Fury vs Anthony Joshua: Will it finally happen? | Boxing News | Sky  Sports

Joshua had taken to Instagram before the event, posting an image of Fury with the caption: “Looking for this man tonight @ringmagazine”, in hopes of a face-off at the ceremony. However, Fury was nowhere to be seen.

Boxing enthufansiasts are eager for a showdown between Joshua and Fury this year, with AJ expressing his commitment to “deliver” the much-anticipated fight. Speaking at the awards, Joshua reflected on his recent break from the ring: “After my last fight I took some time out,” he said.

For the first time since being knocked out cold by his British opponent in September, the former two-time heavyweight world champion faced Daniel Dubois.

The majority of AJ’s evening was devoted to discussing the possibility of a fight with Tyson Fury, which is still one of the biggest in boxing even though both fighters seem to be past their prime.

Martin Bakole challenges Anthony Joshua For Historic Showdown In Africa

Anthony Joshua might box the heavyweight division’s dark horse if that bout doesn’t work out.

Congolese knockout fighter Martin Bakole has quietly risen through the heavyweight ranks, amassing a 22-1 record.

In August 2024, the 31-year-old had a spectacular performance, knocking out American contender Jared Anderson three times on his way to a shocking fifth-round triumph.

Anthony Joshua has called on Tyson Fury to make a blockbuster Battle of Britain heavyweight clash happen between the pair ‘this year’ as a renewed AJ insists he has taken time to ‘heal’.

It has been two months of self-healing for Joshua who upon being knocked out by Daniel Dubois when attempting to become a three-time heavyweight champion in October faced calls to leave the sport.

Anthony Joshua and Tyson Fury will soon be presented with venue for world  title fight, says promoter Eddie Hearn | Boxing News | Sky Sports

However, the London-born superstar isn’t planning on throwing the towel in on his career just yet and vowed to do everything possible to make a fight with career rival Fury finally happen this year.

Both fighters look short of title opportunities as we begin 2025 after Joshua lost to Dubois and Fury was again beaten by Oleksandr Usyk in the pair’s heavyweight title rematch at the end of last year.

Anthony Joshua has revealed his desire to fight Tyson Fury in 2025, admitting “it has to happen this year”.
Fury is recovering from his second bout against Oleksandr Usyk in Saudi Arabia last month, which ended in a unanimous
decision victory for the Ukrainian.
Anthony Joshua vs Tyson Fury takes huge step forward as WBO contact Oleksandr  Usyk who may fight Joe Joyce | Boxing News | Sky Sports
Joshua, meanwhile, last fought against Daniel Dubois in September, losing by KO at Wembley with the IBF heavyweight title on the line
There has been incessant talk since about the prospect of a clash between Fury and Joshua, and the latter has now added more fuel to the fire.
“It’s a fight that I want to see,” Joshua said at The Ring Magazine Awards. “I’m a fan of boxing so I want to get that fight underway.

Johnny Nelson, one of Britain’s finest former champions, pulls no punches when he shares his thoughts on the future of heavyweight icons Tyson Fury and Anthony Joshua. In his candid analysis, Nelson predicts that both fighters will hang up their gloves before 2025 is through. His reasoning? They’ve reached the apex of their careers, and the only fight left worth their time – or that of their fans – is against each other.

Johnny Nelson: Tyson Fury is Anthony Joshua's only motivation, he doesn't  want to be an 'also-ran' | Video | Watch TV Show | Sky Sports

For over a decade, Fury and Joshua have loomed large over the boxing landscape. Fury, the unpredictable Gypsy King, has danced between triumph and chaos, while Joshua has carried himself as the disciplined warrior, a modern-day Adonis with fists of stone.

Yet despite years of speculation, negotiations, and near-misses, these two titans have never shared the ring. Nelson believes that time is running out for this long-anticipated clash to happen, and even if it does, it might be too late to capture their primes.

“They’ve been at the top of the heavyweight division,” Nelson explains. “The biggest purse out there is each other. Anything less devalues their stock.”

Boxing fans worldwide have been dying to see the pair throw down for the best part of ten years and have taken aim at their promoters for not making the fight happen sooner.

But Matchrom Boxing chief Hearn has defended all parties involved, telling Betfred: “[There’s] number of reasons [why it hasn’t happened yet].

Anthony Joshua and Tyson Fury will soon be presented with venue for world  title fight, says promoter Eddie Hearn | Boxing News | Sky Sports

“The time it was going to happen, which was the time we signed for the fight, was when Tyson had his arbitration with Deontay Wilder for the rematch.

“We signed to fight Tyson Fury and I believe Tyson was going to fight Anthony Joshua, but through the court ruling, he had to fight Wilder.

Fury and Joshua were at the peak of their powers when they were on course to fight for the heavyweight marbles in 2021.

Anthony Joshua versus Deontay Wilder is in danger of being the match-up that got away in this heavyweight era.

The two big punchers could have, at one stage, faced off for the undisputed crown, but failed talks and different paths put paid to that and both men would lost their belts.

Anthony Joshua or Deontay Wilder Could Fight Winner of Tyson Fury vs  Oleksandr Usyk if the Fight Happens in 2024 - EssentiallySports

Joshua was first upset by Andy Ruiz Jr and, though he won the unified titles back in the rematch, Wilder was then embroiled in a trilogy with Tyson Fury that he would come out relieved of his WBC belt.

‘AJ’ then lost again to Oleksandr Usyk and couldn’t reverse the result in a return fight. The lack of belts seemed to then make talks easier with his American rival, as well as the introduction of Riyadh Season and its deep pockets, and the pair were put on a collision course, fighting on the same card against different opponents with wins setting up the clash.

Anthony Joshua’s recent post on his official X page, featuring a photo of himself with his uncle, brother, and cousins during his visit to Nigeria, has ignited a wave of reactions from fans worldwide.

With over 2,500 replies and 4.6 million views, the random image has struck a chord, showcasing the power of family and the pride of reconnecting with one’s roots.

Fans flooded the comments section with admiration and humour, praising Joshua for remembering his roots despite his global fame.

Boxing news - Anthony Joshua's heavyweight title defence could slip to July, says Eddie Hearn - Eurosport

The caption, *My uncle, brother, and cosins 👑,”* resonated deeply with many, sparking conversations about family values, homecoming and the Nigerian culture.

One fan, @mrajakaiye, took the opportunity to encourage others to explore Nigeria, writing:

“To all AJ fans—Make sure you put visiting Nigeria 🇳🇬 on your to-do list this year. It’s the best place in the world. So many tourist attractions, amazing people, and amazing food—you’d be spoilt for choice.”

 

A matchup between Fury and Joshua has long alluded the boxing world for one reason or another. Many believe the typical boxing politics prevented the two from sharing the ring at the peak of their careers. Now that both men are without gold and have tasted defeat more than once, there is a belief that the fight could finally come to fruition.

Joshua confident Fury fight will happen

The only problem is, some feel that the best chance to make the bout happen has come and gone and the interest level won’t be nearly as high as it could’ve been.

With talk once again swirling of a potential clash between Tyson Fury and Anthony Joshua, former UFC star Darren Till took to his ‘X’ account to unleash a rant on the fight not happening when it should have.