FRANK WARREN has given his reaction to today’s announcement from Tyson Fury that he has retired from boxing.
โThe Gypsy Kingโ revealed the news on Instagram in spite of the fact that a huge domestic clash against Anthony Joshua appeared to be on the horizon.
In May the two-time heavyweight conqueror faced his most arduous test when he went toe-to-toe with Oleksandr Usyk but came up short, losing a razor-thin split-decision to the Ukrainian in an instant-classic for the undisputed heavyweight title.
Seven months later, Fury attempted to avenge the lone defeat of his career in a rematch with Usyk, but it turned out to be repeat rather than revenge in Riyadh, as Usyk claimed a more comfortable unanimous-decision this time around โ at least in his eyes.
Meanwhile, a flabbergasted Fury struggled to wrap his head around the judgesโ decision and left the ring in disgust, believing that he had done more than enough to get the nod on the scorecards.
Three weeks later and, despite whispers that Fury would collide with Joshua at Wembley Stadium, the towering 36-year-old has revealed that he is walking away from the sport.
During the Instagram video Fury signed off by cryptically stating that โ[at least] Dick Turpin wore a maskโ after announcing his retirement.
Shortly after Furyโs second defeat was confirmed, promoter Frank Warren appeared similarly outraged to his fighter, whom he has promoted since 2014, labelling the result as โnonsenseโ. However, upon rewatching the contest, Warren has since admitted the bout to have been โcloser than he had thoughtโ.
Responding to Furyโs retirement, Warren appeared to confirm that the judgesโ decision was still playing on the mind of the now 34-2-1 Briton, in an interview with TNT Sports.
โIf that is what he wants to do, that is what he should do and Iโve said it all along. No one should try and influence him in the boxing world, it is up to him at the end of the day after consulting his family and making discussions.
โHe has made a lot of money, he has had a fantastic career, he is the best British heavyweight and probably the joint-best heavyweight of the division, in the worst case, of this century.
โHe has been in some magnificent fights, and he has shown what he is about. Itโs been exciting to have been around him, Iโve loved every minute of it and I hope that the fans have as well.
โI hope that he doesnโt leave boxing, Iโd like him to come and work in boxing, he has been brilliant for British [and world boxing and I wish him a lovely retirement and to enjoy his life.
โI will be honest, I didnโt expect it today but that is how he feels. Itโs up to him, itโs his life and he has said how it is. I know that he was disappointed with the result of the last fight, he canโt change it, no one can change the result, it is what it is and at the end of the day, good luck to him.โ