Fury’s retirement: Hearn calls it a “natural play” for a bigger payday

Eddie Hearn doubts Tyson Fury’s retirement is serious enough to last. Hearn says Fury retired to “make sure someone pays you to come out of retirement.” In other words, “The Gypsy King” is pretending so he can get a massive mega-million offer to come out of retirement so he can face Anthony Joshua at the “Battle of Britain.”

It’s not good for promoter Hearn that former WBC heavyweight champion Fury (34-2-1, 24 KOs) announced his retirement today as he hoped to fight Anthony Joshua twice in 2025. With Fury retiring, Joshua doesn’t have much choice.

There’s the Daniel Dubois vs. Joseph Parker winner, and then whatever Hearn can pull off. Dubois can retire Joshua if these two meet again. But the money AJ would get from that fight is nowhere near what he would get fighting Fury twice.

“A natural play”

“I think if you don’t have the heart for it anymore and you don’t want to compete, I think retirement is the best option,” Eddie Hearn told TNT Sports, reacting to Tyson Fury announcing his retirement.

“I’m obviously disappointed for the British fight fans because we have the opportunity to make the biggest fight in boxing. If that’s the last we see of him, he’s had a great career.

“I doubt it, but it’s always been about getting to retirement to make sure someone pays you to get out of retirement. But if that’s his part, all respect to him and I wish him the best,” Hearn said of Fury.

“I think if he was looking for the right deal, he would also retire, but I can’t speak for him. That’s what I would do. I think it’s a natural move, but maybe that’s his part. I don’t know him well enough to to comment, really,” Hearn said.

Fury may be sulking over the loss, questioning himself after revisiting his loss to Oleksandr Usyk on December 21. He must have seen his performance by now and realized he lost. Fury has been down before, and he may not be feeling happy after being dominated for the second time by the talented Usyk.

With the huge fortune Fury has amassed from his fights in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, he might feel he doesn’t want to continue. He has to know that if he fights Joshua, there’s a good chance he’ll get knocked out by him because he doesn’t have the power to stop him like Daniel Dubois did. If Fury has to go 12 rounds to beat Joshua, there’s a good chance he won’t.

Is fury afraid?

Reliving the memories of a knockout loss to AJ would be haunting for Fury, and no amount of money could make him forget what happened. Some people can let bad experiences roll off their backs and forget about it. I don’t think Tyson is that guy. He’s more like someone who delves into the past, second guesses himself, and feels tortured by regret like many older people do.

“He’s the guy who has to make his own decisions and it’s not the kind of sport you want to play if your heart isn’t in it anymore,” Hearn said.

“If his heart is no longer in it, it’s the right decision for him. Hopefully that won’t be the case and we get to see AJ fight. If not, I wish him all the best. The winner of Joseph Parker vs. Dubois,” Hearn said when asked what the next fight Anthony Joshua can take if Fury remains retired.

As you can see, Hearn is thinking about himself and not Fury’s situation. It is just a tool to help Joshua increase his wealth. I don’t blame Fury for retiring because the way he was hurt in both Usyk fights showed he can’t take a punch anymore. The three contests with Deontay Wilder did something to him. Yes, it’s admirable that Fury won two, but the damage is there. Deontay took some chips out of him in those fights.

Eddie Hear. reacts to Tyson Fury’s retirement 🗣️

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— Boxing on TNT Sports (@boxingontnt) January 13, 2025