Oleksandr Usyk doesn't buy Tyson Fury's retirement claims. The Ukrainian heavyweight champ thinks "The Gypsy King" will return to the ring despite announcing his retirement in January.
Fury hung up his gloves weeks after losing to Usyk for the second time. Their first clash in May 2024 saw Fury fail in his bid to become undisputed champion. The rematch ended with Usyk winning by unanimous decision after 12 rounds.
This isn't Fury's first retirement rodeo. He's stepped away from boxing before, only to make successful comebacks. Usyk believes this time is no different.
In a recent interview with The Stomping Ground, Usyk shared his thoughts on Fury's current status:
"I think Tyson Fury is not retired. I think he continues to train, he continues to box. He's a great man."
Usyk didn't stop there. He expressed hope for a potential showdown between Fury and former champion Anthony Joshua:
"I believe in Jesus so I pray to say hey, help these two guys organise this fight. It will be a great fight, Tyson Fury and Anthony Joshua."
Joshua, who lost twice to Usyk, is currently on the comeback trail. He's recovering from an elbow injury after a tough loss to Daniel Dubois last September. Joshua plans to return to action in the second half of this year.
With Fury supposedly out of the picture, Joshua might look elsewhere for his next big fight. Deontay Wilder is making a low-key comeback later this month, setting up a potential clash with Joshua down the line.
As for Usyk, he's got his own business to handle. He'll face Daniel Dubois, the current IBF champion, in July. A win would make Usyk a two-time undisputed heavyweight champ, cementing his legacy in the sport.
The heavyweight division remains as unpredictable as ever. Will Fury stay retired? Will Joshua return to form? Can Usyk continue his dominance? Only time will tell, but one thing's for sure – the boxing world will be watching closely.
