Undefeated Heavyweight Champion Tyson Fury has been adamant that his sixth round knockout of Dillian Whyte in front of a packed Wembley Stadium was his last dance, but his co-promoter is convinced that there is an encore to come.
Speaking to talkSPORT, Frank Warren discussed what many fans are hoping for – an undisputed matchup between Fury and the winner of the upcoming Oleksandr Usyk- Anthony Joshua rematch.
That fight’s victor will leave Jeddah with three of the four major heavyweight belts, leaving only Tyson Fury’s WBC title needed to make it a full house.
Warren of Queensbury Promotions, who alongside Top Rank’s Bob Arum has overseen Fury’s sensational comeback, provided some hope.
“He’s got itchy feet at the moment, he wants to fight.
“I think what’s going to happen is, see what happens on [August] 20 and the outcome of that and that’ll determine what he intends to do in the future.
“My opinion, this is not from him, it’s from me. I think he will [return] because he’s a fighting man and he misses it.”
Fury’s emphatic win over Whyte in April was the second defence of the WBC belt he took from Deontay Wilder in an explosive battle last October.
The champion has been open about the punishment he took, particularly in their third fight, and has cited this as one of the reasons for hanging up the gloves.
Still, he has made it his style to defy expectations. Comments from Bob Arum that he is already in discussion with Team Usyk reinforce Warren’s plans, and rumours surrounding a trilogy fight with veteran Derek Chisora all hint that Tyson Fury has some fight left in him.
Whatever happens on August 20, all eyes will turn to ‘The Gypsy King’ in the aftermath. He will have the final say on whether fight fans will see the first Undisputed Heavyweight Champion since Lennox Lewis, or if we’ll have to wait a little longer.
Warren’s final thoughts on the matter suggest that a decision will eventually be made.
“I don’t want him to retire and come back in three years. If he’s going to retire, don’t come back.
“If you’re going to come back, fight in your prime. Three years later you change. I genuinely don’t think he’s at his peak yet.”