- Fury narrowly beat Francis Ngannou to maintain his unbeaten status as a boxer
- He was set to fight Usyk on December 23 but has been trying to push date back
- Listen to Mail Sport’s new boxing podcast THE HOOK – with exclusive interviews
Eddie Hearn has said he wouldn’t be surprised if Tyson Fury decided to retire from professional boxing following his victory over Francis Ngannou.
The ‘Gypsy King’ was spared what would have been one of the biggest upsets of all-time after securing a highly unconvincing split decision win over the former UFC heavyweight champion last weekend.
Fury came under-fire for his performance in Saudi Arabia on the opening day of Riyadh Season as he hit the canvas in the third round of their crossover bout and struggled to impose himself.
When asked about what is next for Fury, Hearn said he ‘wouldn’t be surprised if the Gypsy King retired’.
Speaking to Mail Sport, Hearn said: ‘It depends on how he takes the criticism, which he doesn’t take very well.
Eddie Hearn has admitted he wouldn’t be surprised if Tyson Fury (pictured) retires from boxing
Fury survived a scare to beat MMA star Francis Ngannou in a crossover event by split decision
Hearn (pictured) said Fury’s future will depend on how he takes the criticism, which ‘he doesn’t take very well’
‘It wasn’t a taxing fight physically. He got dropped and hurt multiple times. But for me, I would like to see a fighter take two to three months out after a fight like that. Probably six to eight weeks, go on holiday.
‘Three or four weeks isn’t enough. By the time you get home, by the time you unpack [you don’t get to relax properly].
‘Some fighters think, I need to get back into the camp. But that’s not what you do against Usyk. He needs to stay active but he also needs to regroup up here before going back into a training camp.
‘A training camp for a southpaw like Usyk, and I know Tyson says he likes to do five to six weeks, but realistically it’s a big fight and he needs longer.
‘Fury will do what Fury does but it’s a big fight for him. I can’t see that happening until earlier February.
Fury was supposed to be fighting Oleksandr Usyk (right) in December but Hearn said the turnaround is too short
Fury has been trying to push back the date after claiming he would fight the Ukrainian this year
‘I never thought it was going to happen on the 23rd of December to be honest. I’m sure that fight will happen though [at some point].
‘The only way that fight doesn’t happen is if Fury retires. A few people have said that this week. I said I wouldn’t be surprised if he did retire. But hopefully we get to see that undisputed fight.’
Fury briefly retired after defeating Dillian Whyte in April 2022 only to climb back into the ring later that year against Derek Chisora.
Nine years before that he had claimed he was finished with the sport after his fight with David Haye was cancelled for a second time.
But again, ‘The Gypsy King’ was pulled back in this time by a Belfast dust-up with Kevin Johnson.
Hearn said he ‘never thought’ the bout would happen in December but that he is ‘sure’ it will take place at some point
Fury knows all too well how hard it is to let boxing go but insists he won’t overstay his welcome.
The Gypsy King previously said: ‘I think every fighter knows when it’s time to walk away. But they always leave it too long anyway. I’m sure I’ll make the right decision.
‘I’ve got a lot to do in my life. I’ve got a lot of kids and I need to be in the right mind.
‘I don’t need to be getting injured or whatever because it would’ve all been for nothing – the whole career.’
