Eddie Hearn and Frank Warren have delivered their verdicts to talkSPORT on Tyson Fury’s shock retirement announcement.
The ‘Gypsy King’s’ future remained unclear following a second defeat to Oleksandr Usyk in their rematch last month.
Warren believes Fury’s retirement is authentic and has wished him the bestCredit: Ian Walton/Matchroom
He had previously been heavily linked with a two-fight deal against Anthony Joshua in 2025.
However, those plans have now been put on hold, with Fury declaring his intentions to step away from the sport on social media.
His promoter, Warren, was at the press conference for Dmitry Bivol and Artur Beterbiev’s rematch, scheduled for February 22, when Fury made his announcement.
Reacting to the news during an exclusive interview with talkSPORT’s Gareth A. Davies, Warren said: “My take on it is that he is retired.
“He’s retired, I’m not going to ring him and try to debate with him.
“I said immediately after that fight, ‘Go away with your family, consider what you have got to do.
“‘You are a very wealthy man, you have done everything you have to do in boxing, you have had the most magnificent career – a two-time heavyweight champion’.
“And we are going to miss him, boxing is going to miss him.
“He has been a magnificent champion in the ring…
“I’ve got to be honest I didn’t know what he was going to do but as I said at the start of this, no matter what he wants to do, I am with him 100 per cent.”
Hearn wishes Fury the best but is devastated that Fury vs Joshua won’t happenCredit: Getty
Asked if this is merely a negotiation tactic to get a better deal for a potential fight with Joshua, Warren replied: “Negotiating tactic?
“What for? He’s the A side of the card? His two fights with Usyk were close fights.
“AJ’s last fight he got poleaxed by Daniel Dubois. What are you talking about? AJ needs him.”
Hearn has given his own verdict on Fury’s bombshell announcement, telling talkSPORT: “If that’s the last we see of him good luck to him.
“Maybe he says it this time he’s on the back of the two defeats and it is genuine.
“But we can’t control it. If it is genuine good luck to him. Of course, it would be a big disappointment for British boxing.
Fury was beaten twice by Usyk in 2024 which has led to his announcementCredit: Getty
“Especially now when it’s the best time to make that fight. But when you can’t control things you shouldn’t have emotion about the decision.
“We will see if it changes and if it doesn’t we wish him all the best.”
Of course, this isn’t the first time Fury has hung up his gloves.
He first announced he was retiring in 2013 after his fight with David Haye collapsed – although he would return to the ring to become a two-time heavyweight world champion.
The Briton then announced his retirement again in April 2022 after beating Dillian Whyte in a huge all-British showdown at Wembley Stadium.
But he returned to the ring again to fight Derek Chisora later in the year.
A crossover clash with former UFC heavyweight champion Francis Ngannou followed in October 2023 before his iconic two-fight series with Usyk in 2024.