Tyson Fury has announced his retirement from boxing with immediate effect.
The announcement comes just two days after Eddie Hearn revealed that Wembley has been booked for Fury to fight Anthony Joshua in the summer.
It is not the first time that Fury has announced his retirement, as the Brit said in April 2022, after defeating Dillian Whyte, that he would hang up his gloves.
The 36-year-old returned six months later to take on Derek Chisora in a trilogy fight at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium.
“I would like to announce my retirement from boxing,” Fury said video post on Instagram.
“It was great. I loved every minute and I'll end with this – Dick Turpin wearing a mask!”
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Watch the highlights of the Alexander Usyk-Tyson Fury rematch from December
said Fury's promoter Frank Warren Sky Sports: “Good luck with him, God bless him. I'm thrilled for him. Since his last fight, I've been saying whatever he chooses, I support him 100 percent.
“He's done incredibly great things for British boxing, world boxing. He participated in some of the most exciting fights, certainly in the second coming, every one of them was exciting.
“I'm delighted for him. I hope he and his family enjoy the fruits of his labor.”
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Matt Macklin discusses Tyson Fury's retirement announcement and potential disappointment if he never faces Anthony Joshua in the ring
Last week, Joshua, who hasn't fought since Daniel Dubois knocked him out in September, posted a picture of Fury on his Instagram with the message “looking for this guy.”
Eddie Hearn said Matchroom that Fury's decision to retire is “disappointing for British fight fans” but he “doubts” his career is over and hopes the Joshua-Fury fight can still happen.
Asked if a fight with Joshua could tempt Fury out of retirement, Warren said: “It's up to him. If he wants to, he will. If he doesn't want to, he won't. He doesn't have to prove anything to anybody.”
Fury was defeated by unanimous decision in December in his rematch with Oleksandr Usyk.
He speculated on whether he would even box again after the fight, saying, “I might not. I'm going home and I've got some time off.”
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Tyson Fury shares his honest thoughts after second loss to Oleksandr Usyk
Fury is a two-time world heavyweight champion, and won his first title when he defeated Wladimir Klitschko in 2015.
After a three-year hiatus, he returned to the ring and went on to defeat Deontay Wilder in their second fight in 2020 to become the WBC champion, before defending the title again against Wilder in 2021, then against Dillian Whyte and Derek Chisora in 2022.
He overcame a major scare against Francis Ngannou in 2023, before losing twice to Usyk last year.
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Promoter Eddie Hearn has given his thoughts on Tyson Fury's retirement, reflecting on his illustrious career
Nelson: Fury is 'the boy who cried wolf'
Sky Sports Boxing's Jonny Nelson:
“The boy who cried wolf, and maybe today Tyson believes it's coming from his heart and soul. He'll listen to the comments, but since he's done it before and you're thinking about what's on the table now, why would you do it right now now?
“As long as this fight with AJ goes on, I don't believe it, who knows? Do you think Tyson quit? He gave up today, but tomorrow is a different story. I don't believe him.
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Tyson Fury has repeatedly announced his retirement, and just two years ago he insisted that he would never return to the boxing ring
“So if you listen to Frank and Eddie's remarks, it just reminds me of your parents when you're a little kid and you say 'you're leaving home, I'm running away' and your mum and dad are like, 'yeah go on then', because they know they don't they have to deal with you.
“Maybe you know, Frank's actually thinking, 'You know what? This is him today. I get it. I'm going with you, but the door's still open.'
“I just don't believe it, because there are still too many lucrative opportunities for him with Anthony Joshua.”
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Johnny Nelson reacts to Tyson Fury's retirement announcement, saying he 'doesn't believe it', wondering why he would think that when a fight with AJ is on the table and citing the number of times the boxer has retired before
Sky Sports News' Ben Ransom:
“Very enigmatic and typical Tyson Fury. It's not the first time we've heard him make a similar retirement statement. Rewind the clock to 2022 after he just beat Dilian Whyte and he said that's it, he's done and ready to ride in sunset.
“And then he was tempted to come back, so to speak, to fight Derek Chisora and then that eventually led him down the road to an opportunity to be the undisputed king of the heavyweight division.
“So I think we can take that with a grain of salt, just given the previous.
“I think the cryptic message about Dick Turpin wearing the mask is the part that maybe makes me think there's more going on than he's letting on at this point.”
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Hear what was said between Tyson Fury and SugarHill's trainer ahead of his final round against Oleksandr Usyk
Fury's boxing legacy
Sky Sports' John Dennen:
“Tyson Fury has a legacy in the sport. He has won every major title in the division. He has had significant moments in boxing. He upset Wladimir Klitschko, who was previously the dominant champion, back in 2015 to win the unified titles first.
“He then completed a remarkable comeback when, after being inactive for more than two years, piling on the pounds and struggling with mental health, he returned to the sport.
“Fury drew controversially with Deontay Wilder in 2018, memorably rallied from a heavy knockdown. He then became the WBC world champion when he crushed Wilder in the rematch and the pair completed their trilogy in one of the most exciting heavyweight fights of all time.
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Micah Richards tries to hit on Tyson Fury's favorite rom-com in a hilarious edition of A League of Their Own, with episodes now available on demand via Sky Max and NOW
“But there are holes in his resume. He has never held all four major titles at the same time. This year his bid for the undisputed world heavyweight championship against Oleksandr Usyk ended in defeat. He also failed in his second match with Usyk, losing another one points decision, which means Usyk will be considered the best heavyweight of this era.
“He's also never boxed his great British rival Anthony Joshua. But maybe that fight could tempt Fury into retirement. He's retired, of course, and he wasn't retired before…”