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WBC heavyweight champion Tyson ‘The Gypsy King’ Fury 31-0-1 (22) has declared he is on the verge of retirement ahead of his mandatory title defence against longtime contender Dillian Whyte 28-2 (19) at Wembley Stadium in London, England on April 23.
The 33-year-old Brit, who turned pro 13 years ago, is coming off an 11th round knockout of old rival Deontay Wilder 42-2-1 (41) in their trilogy fight in Las Vegas in October.
Fury first claimed world championship honours when he lifted the WBA, WBO and IBF belts from long-reigning champion Wladimir Klitschko 64-5 (53) on points in Dusseldorf, Germany in November 2015.
After the victory he walked away from the sport for more than two-and-half years and blew up in weight to a reported 400-pounds.
Fury has frequently talked about walking away from the sport while still on top with his health intact.
If he does live up to his word, the boxing world will be deprived of his much talked about fight against domestic rival Anthony Joshua 24-2 (22), a bout that has been scuppered multiple times for various reasons including promotional disputes, arbitration and Joshua’s points loss to Ukrainian southpaw Oleksandr Usyk 19-0 (13) in Tottenham last September.
With Joshua, 32, enacting his immediate rematch clause with former undisputed cruiserweight champion Usyk, who is currently in his homeland defending the country against the Russian invasion, the pair could both be on the sidelines until the back half of this year before the rematch can take place.
That would leave Fury without a worthwhile dance partner until 2023, an option the lineal champion is not willing to consider.
“The only thing I can gain is money,” Fury told BT Sport. “So after this fight I’ll have earned over £100 million. If I can spend that, I don’t deserve any more, do I?
“I know Mike Tyson spent half a billion and Evander Holyfield $400 million and all the rest, but I don’t live their big flash lifestyles.
“I live in Morecambe, in Lancashire. It’s cheap there. I don’t have any big habits like I’m gambling tons of money away. I don’t do anything. I can never spend the money I’ve got.
“I’ve got stuff I want to do, a lot of opportunities that don’t involve me getting brain damage. I’ve got six kids and a wife. When is enough enough?
“Why do I have to be one of those people who went on too long and got injured? Just had one too many fights and blew it all for what? A few more quid?
“I want to retire on top, unbeaten heavyweight champion of the world. I want to do a Netflix documentary, a Hollywood movie, and be a good husband, father and son.
“Most of all I just want to be happy and that’s probably the hardest thing.”
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