Tyson Fury is a master of the unexpected.
Few outside his team expected him to beat Wladimir Klitschko when he challenged the great Ukrainian for the unified WBA, IBF and WBO heavyweight titles in 2015.
He defied those doubts.
Fury was not expected to retire from the sport two and a half years after that.
But he overcame his battles with depression, cut weight and defied expectations when he took on Deontay Wilder in a thrilling trilogy where he fought the world’s strongest puncher and then won and defended the WBC heavyweight title.
This year, he failed to beat Oleksandr Usyk and win the undisputed title of world champion, nor did he manage to get revenge in the December rematch. He lost two decisions in highly competitive fights with Usyk and remains, clearly, one of the top two fighters in the division.
But perhaps second best would never be enough for Fury.
He surprised again when he announced his retirement on Monday.
Fury always creates intrigue and he did so again when he concluded his statement by saying: “I’ll finish with this – Dick Turpin wore a mask!”
Dick Turpin was a notorious British highwayman in the 18th century.
Brad Jacobs, COO at Top Rank, Fury’s co-promoter, said Sky Sports: “Only Tyson knows what he meant by that. The only thing I can figure is that he probably thought he was robbed in the Usyk fight.”
Fury was convinced he deserved the decision especially in his second fight with Usyka.
Eddie Hearn, Anthony Joshua’s promoter, wasn’t sure how to interpret Fury’s comment from Dick Turpin, but he didn’t think it was referring to any talks for Fury vs. AJ – since those talks haven’t even started yet.
“On the one hand it could mean, I’m rich, I’ll see you later, I’m leaving,” Hearn said Sky Sports.
“On the other hand, it could mean that you feel betrayed. There was no negotiation on our end. The only conversation we had with Frank Warren and [Fury’s manager] Spencer Brown is when the time is right, let’s talk. That’s it.
“Everybody wants a fight, it’s the biggest fight in boxing. I don’t know what it is [Turpin comment] refers to.”
Hearn added of Fury: “He’s been extremely good. He’s had a great career and if that’s the end, then congratulations on a great career. Disappointing for the British public, but if it’s time, it’s time.”
It’s possible that a non-title bout with Joshua doesn’t interest Fury at this stage in his career.
Top Rank’s Jacobs said: “I think he really enjoyed being the heavyweight champion, and he’s not anymore.
“Maybe he doesn’t see a path to becoming heavyweight champion again. Look, boxing is a tough business. It’s a very tough, tough sport out there and you can never put yourself in a boxer’s shoes and try to determine how they’re feeling or what they’re thinking.
“This man’s been doing this for a long time, I see. So if that’s what it’s for him, God bless him.
“He said it best himself, which was ‘I don’t need more money. I have enough money. I have my beautiful family.’ If he’s not ready to go in there to win, stay out of it.”
Joseph Parker, himself a former world heavyweight champion who knows Fury well, believes the Briton’s legacy speaks for itself.
“Sounds like he’s retired. And if he is, great, because he’s achieved everything there is in boxing. He’s been world champion twice. Not just the boxing side, coming back after going through depression, he’s achieved everything. He’s got a lovely wife and beautiful children,” Parker said Sky Sports.
“If he is indeed retired, let him enjoy the rest of his life.”
Perhaps Fury’s next surprise will be the announcement that he is retired and staying retired. They will have to sometime. After all, even Fury couldn’t fight forever.
“Of course he can’t. No fighter can,” said promoter Frank Warren Sky Sports.
“At the end of the day you have to face reality. Not that he should retire, I’m saying financially he can, there was nothing about that fight between the two of them [Fury and Usyk].
“He was a two-time world champion. He did it twice and in the other guy’s backyard.”
Warren hopes Fury will stay involved in boxing in another role, perhaps even as a promoter.
“I wouldn’t have a problem with him hooking up with us. We’d be nice together!” Warren said. “He has a great brain and is very perceptive.
“I hope not [goodbye] because boxing has a lot to give outside the ring.”
Another comeback?
Eddie Hearn, however, thinks Anthony Joshua’s boxing prospects could still bring Tyson Fury back at some point.
“I’m optimistic. It’s hard because I don’t know him, but it would be very hard for me to believe that he would leave this fight on the table,” Hearn said.
The last time Fury retired, in 2022, it was a matter of months before he returned.
“We’ve been here before, haven’t we?” Hearn continued. “But this time he’s coming off two losses. So I don’t know him well enough to judge. If it’s over, congratulations, good luck.
“You don’t want to fight someone like Anthony Joshua, you don’t want to be in big heavyweight fights if your heart isn’t in it anymore.
“If he’s done, he’s done. And if he is, good luck to him.”
