Tyson Fury announced his retirement earlier this year, although fans may be “idiots” for believing his career is really done.
Following his second defeat to Oleksandr Usyk in December 2024, Tyson Fury made a shock retirement announcement on social media in January 2025.
This put an end to his iconic 16-year career in the ring, which saw Fury become the World Heavyweight champion, making millions of dollars in the process.
However, anyone believing that the 36-year-old “Gypsy King” is done is not as clever as they thought, as one boxing legend reveals why he thinks Fury really hung up his gloves.
Johnny Nelson labels fans ‘idiots’ for believing Tyson Fury’s retirement claims
Fury’s retirement is purely a negotiation tactic, according to former WBO Cruiserweight champion Johnny Nelson.
Nelson held the title for six years and knows a thing or two about the mind of a boxing champion. He doesn’t believe Fury is really retired, claiming it is just a way for him to negotiate a higher price for future fights.
He also labeled the fans who believe Fury about his retirement as “idiots”, which, given the fact that Fury has retired five times in his career, is a fair accusation.
Nelson told Carl Froch on Froch on Fighting: “He’s not finished. I see him. I see Tyson. I’m thinking ‘you lot are idiots if you believe he’s done’.. He’s not going anywhere.
“I think he’ll fight again. He’s not done. He’s not done.
“There are a few fighters who use the word ‘retirement’ as a negotiating step, and I think Tyson Fury is one of them.”
Tyson Fury reportedly agreed to fight Anthony Joshua just months after retiring
Nelson may have a point, as Fury looks set to step out of retirement just months after ending his career with a heartfelt social media message.
It has been reported that Fury has agreed to fight Joshua, finally putting together the fight fans have wanted to see for years.
However, when the fight was first discussed, both men were undefeated heavyweight champions, ranked among the top fighters of all time.
With both men now with numerous losses under their belts, their stock has dropped rapidly, and interest in the fight is not as high as in previous years.
Hopefully, Joshua and Fury can agree to fight sooner, rather than later, and avoid a situation like Manny Pacquiao vs Floyd Mayweather, where the quality of the fight does not match the incredible hype for the bout.