Tyson Fury still had three fights planned before retirement – including Anthony Joshua

Tyson Fury has retired from boxing without completing three fights he wanted.

The Gypsy King, 36, announced on Monday that he will not be fighting anymore. His decision comes a month after he lost a second consecutive match against Oleksandr Usyk in Saudi Arabia.

Few will be too surprised that Fury came to this decision, having previously announced his retirement after beating Dillian Whyte in 2022, only to U-turn and fight Derek Chisora a matter of months later. Yet, according to his previous comments, Fury is walking away from the squared circle three fights earlier than expected.

In February 2024, the month he was first initially expected to take on Usyk before it was postponed, Fury insisted he was entering his peak boxing years. He said: "I keep hearing talk of people saying I should retire or I’m going to retire soon or whatever.

“I ain’t retiring – I’ve got two fights with Usyk for the undisputed, twice. Then I’m going to fight AJ [Joshua] at least once, maybe twice, if there’s a rematch – if he wants one after the first battering I give him.

"Then I’m going to fight [Francis] Ngannou again. And that’s just the start. So there’re five little fights for you to whet your appetite with. I ain’t going nowhere. Nowhere. I’m 35 years old and in the prime of my life and I’m ready to smash."

Fury lost both of his bouts against Usyk in Saudi Arabia, the first via a split-decision and the second by a unanimous verdict, which saw all three judges award the bout 16-12 in his opponent's favour.

While he was able to fight and beat Ngannou in controversial fashion before his first clash against Usyk, Fury's retirement means he will not be fighting Anthony Joshua. A bout between the two British heavyweights had been touted