Tyson Fury is now happily retired and living his best life with wife Paris and their adorable family, but will it stay that way for ever?
The future of ‘The Gypsy King’ looms as perhaps the biggest question mark over boxing’s heavyweight division right now, with opinion split on whether the 36-year-old two-time world champion will return to the ring again.
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Fury failed in his bid to become the first undisputed heavyweight king in a quarter of a century with that agonising defeat by Oleksandr Usyk in their Riyadh blockbuster last May. He would fail to avenge that loss in their December rematch, losing another decision to the Ukrainian genius.
A few weeks later Tyson announced he was retiring from the sport, and since then he appears to be deservedly enjoying a wonderful life with his family away from the pressures of elite sporting competition.
Bob Arum on what is next for Tyson Fury
One man who has a very clear view on what should happen next is legendary US promoter Bob Arum, who along with Frank Warren has masterminded Fury’s incredible career in recent years.
He told Sky Sports Boxing: “I think Tyson Fury owes it to himself and his family to remain happily retired. Not from life, because I believe he has a lot in front of him because he is a good communicator and he is an entertainer.
“But I don’t think he should step in the ring again because I think he’s had enough. Fortunately in the last few years of his career, he earned so much money that his family or himself are never gonna want for money.
“I would advise him to not ever go back into the ring but to make himself useful as a spokesperson because he can communicate extraordinarily well. People are intrigued by him and I think he can do a lot of good.”
Fury vs Joshua, will it happen?
If Fury does stay retired, there is of course one fight that will remain a tantalising possibility which never happened – that longed-for all-British blockbuster vs Anthony Joshua.
While Fury is retired, AJ is also out of action right now, rehabbing an injury to the upper half of his body after that devastating loss to Daniel Dubois last September. But promoter Eddie Hearn has been absolutely clear that he and Joshua would still love to meet ‘The Gypsy King’ next.
Arum though isn’t quite as desperate to see that fight happen as folks are on this side of the pond, admitting: “As you know, I’m not a Brit so I’m not as fascinated by Anthony Joshua/Tyson Fury as a Brit maybe. So it doesn’t move that he’s walking away from boxing and walking away from that fight.”
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So, does Arum believe there is a fighter out there who could motivate Fury to return to action?
“I don’t know. Tyson is a very outward kind of person, he communicates well. He reaches out and he expresses what he things. But, that being said, do I really know what deep down he’s gonna do? No, because I don’t think he really does.
“It’s not for me to support it or condemn it. Nobody is forcing him to do anything, and if he wanted to come back and he wanted Top Rank to be part of the comeback, of course we would be willing to do it. That’s up to him, I mean he’s not like an uneducated, stupid kind of guy.
“Tyson Fury is a very very smart and very bright and if he decided to come back, nobody would be forcing him to come back. It would be somebody who decided of his own volition to come back and if he wanted us involved I would happily be involved.”
The future of boxing’s heavyweights
Right now the heavyweight landscape is fascinating – despite the fact that for now Fury and Joshua are not among the current title holders.
Usyk (23-0) is the WBC, WBA, WBO, Ring magazine and lineal king, while the rejuvenated Dubois (22-2) holds the IBF title. It’s possible they could meet at Wembley Stadium on July 12 in another undisputed blockbuster.
Beneath them there are exciting talents aiming to get world title shots – notably Kiwi Joseph Parker and the incredible young talent that is British sensation Moses Itauma (11-0). To name but two. Arum agrees that the sport’s marquee weight class is in rude health right now.
“I think the heavyweight division is strong because other than Usyk, these other fighters have tasted defeat but yet they’ve come back. I mean in particular Joseph Parker – he was considered to be finished, washed up, not ever to be a top contender – and look at him now. I mean he is a top contender.
“Dubois also, everybody thought that he was finished and yet people are talking about him fighting Usyk again. These heavyweights now are so talented and so big, not like the old days where you’d have one or two that might be tall guys. Now they’re like basketball players, all so big and strong and it’s fun watching them.
“So yeah, this is a good era for the heavyweights.”
