Should Tyson Fury Return?

Tyson Fury has been linked with a return to boxing, but should he come back? 

Fury retired in the aftermath of his second defeat to Oleksandr Usyk. The Gypsy King disputed the results of both fights, as he never became the Undisputed Heavyweight Champion. The defeat meant Usyk became the best heavyweight of this generation, much to Fury’s dismay. Fury had referred to him as a blown-up cruiserweight, calling him a rabbit. Fury also said he would retire if he could not get past the Ukrainian. Now that he has done so, it may be in his interest to stick to those words. 

Fury’s Decision

The Joshua fight is not as big as it used to be. Joshua was knocked out by Daniel Dubois in his last fight, as he missed out on becoming the IBF Heavyweight Champion. While Joshua still wants the Fury fight, there are times when fights are past their sell-by date. The Amir Khan vs. Kell Brook fight happened too late, as the pair were no longer in their prime when they faced off in 2022. Khan was ultimately stopped, as he was no longer the same fighter.

Joshua and Fury are now in the same moment. Fury also risks suffering more damage. He took sustained punishment in the first Usyk fight, as he was almost knocked out in the ninth round. Fury also admitted he felt he had brain damage following the third Deontay Wilder fight. The Gypsy King has secured his financial future, meaning there is no pressing need to return. 

Fury also risks harming his legacy further. He has an argument that he has achieved more than Joshua. The latter could change that with a win against Fury, knowing he is not the same fighter after the two Usyk losses. Fury has long said he could beat Joshua with one hand, putting the pressure on him to back up those words. Fury is now at a crossroads as he prepares to make his next move.