Tyson Fury plans to fight until he’s 40 after changing his mind about retiring from boxing.
Following his sensational victory over Deontay Wilder, the new WBC heavyweight champion revealed he probably had two fights left before hanging up the gloves.
Fury, 31, is already committed to a trilogy fight with Wilder and there are hopes of an all-British showdown with Anthony Joshua to crown the first undisputed heavyweight champion in 20 years.
Those hopes were given a boost as Fury committed his long-term future to the sport.
“I’m going to fight on until I’m 40 years old. I’ve been thinking about it, and there isn’t much else to do anyways. So yeah, I may as well keep fighting,” Fury said in an interview.
“I don’t see anyone out there that can challenge me anyway. I just flattened the best one out there, the toughest opponent out there is Deontay Wilder, and we all saw what happened to him the last time out.”
Boxing promoter Eddie Hearn responded to reports that talks are under way for Fury and Joshua to fight later this year, reminding everyone they are still due to fight other opponents first.
Joshua’s fight with Kubrat Pulev has been postponed from June, while Fury was due to face Wilder in July, and that looks set to be pushed back as well.
While Hearn insists that no negotiations can take place until Pulev and Wilder step aside, the promoter admitted that would be the best outcome so fans get the fight they truly want.
“Negotiations are definitely not under way because we have a contract to fight Kubrat Pulev next and Tyson Fury has a contract to fight Deontay Wilder next,” Hearn said.
“Because of everything that is happening, I believe there is keenness from Anthony Joshua and Tyson Fury to potentially go straight into that fight but there are the major hurdles of us both being under contract for other fights.”
“There are no negotiations taking place and none can take place until Deontay Wilder decides to step aside and Kubrat Pulev decides to step aside. Could a deal be struck for Wilder and Pulev to step aside? Absolutely. Would we entertain it? Absolutely.”
“But right now the focus is on the contracts we have signed, with a move for the winners to fight each other in spring of 2021,” Hearn added.
By Chidi Nwoke.