Fury’s retirement: Hearn calls it a ‘natural move’ for a bigger payday

Eddie Hearn doubts that Tyson Fury’s retirement will be serious and lasting. Hearn says Fury retired to “make sure someone pays him out of retirement.” In other words, ‘the Gypsy King’ is faking it so he can receive a huge mega-million dollar offer to come out of retirement so he can face Anthony Joshua in 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 because he hoped to fight Anthony Joshua twice in 2025. With Fury retiring, Joshua has no great options.

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

“A natural game”

“I think if you don’t have the heart to do 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’s announcement of his retirement.

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

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

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

Fury may be in a bad mood about the loss, questioning himself after re-watching his loss to Oleksandr Usyk on December 21. He must have already seen his performance and realized that he lost. Fury has been down before and may not be happy after being dominated for the second time by the talented Usyk.

With the enormous fortune Fury has amassed from his fights in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, he might feel like he doesn’t want to continue. He has to know that if he fights Joshua, there is a good chance that he will knock him out 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 make it.

Are you afraid of fury?

Living through 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 slip away and forget about them. I don’t think Tyson is that type. It’s more like someone who would focus on the past, doubt themselves, and be tortured by regret like many older people do.

“He’s the man who can make his own decisions and it’s not the kind of sport you want to play if your heart is no longer in it,” Hearn said.

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

As you can see, Hearn is thinking about himself and not about 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 injured in both fights with Usyk showed that he can’t take a hit anymore. The three fights with Deontay Wilder did something to him. Yes, it’s admirable that Fury won two of them, but the damage is there. Deontay took some chips from him in those fights.

Eddie listens. reacts to Tyson Fury’s retirement 🗣️

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