Frank Warren pays tribute to 'magnificent' Tyson Fury after boxer shares bombshell retirement announcement

Published 13/01/2025 at 16:43 GMT

Boxing promoter Frank Warren has paid tribute to the "magnificent" Tyson Fury, "the best British heavyweight of this century", after the boxer shared the surprise news that he would walk away from the sport. Fury, who retired in 2022 but later reversed his decision, shared the announcement of his second retirement in a brief video on Instagram on Monday afternoon.

Tyson Fury with his promoter Frank Warren at a press conference as part of Oleksandr Usyk v Tyson Fury 2 at Via Riyadh on December 19, 2024 in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.

Image credit: Getty Images

Boxing promoter Frank Warren has hailed Tyson Fury as "magnificent" after the Brit shared the surprise news of his retirement on Monday afternoon.

Warren admitted he had been caught off guard by the announcement, which came despite speculation mounting over a potential blockbuster all-British clash between Fury and Anthony Joshua.

But Fury has instead called time on his career at the age of 36, sharing the news in a short video on Instagram.

Boxing

How to watch Chisora v Wallin - The Last Dance live on TNT Sports

21 hours ago

"God bless him. If that's what he wants to do, that's what he should do," Warren told TNT Sports. "I've said it all along, no one should be trying to influence him in the boxing world, it's up to him at the end of the day, after consulting his family.

"He's made a lot of money, he's had a fantastic career, he's the best British heavyweight, probably joint best heavyweight of his division [in] the worst case, of this century.

"He's been in some magnificent fights. He's shown what he's been about, he's been exciting to be around. I've loved every minute of it and I hope all the fans have as well."

"I hope he doesn't leave boxing," Warren added. "I'd like him to come and work in boxing, but he's been brilliant for British boxing, and I wish him a lovely retirement and to enjoy his life."

The news comes a month after Fury suffered a second successive defeat to Ukraine's heavyweight world champion Oleksandr Usyk, with those two losses the only ones in a hugely successful fighting career.

"I'll be honest, I didn't expect it today," Warren said. "But listen, that's what it is, that's how he feels and it's up to him to, it's his life and he's said how it is.

"I know he was disappointed with the result of the last fight, but look, he can't change it, no one can change the result, it is what it is.

"But at the end of the day, good luck to him and be happy with what you've achieved and what you've done with your life, because you've done magnificent.

"Think where you were before that second comeback [from retirement], and look what you managed to do, you should be more pleased with that than any boxing or anything, how you turned your life around. God bless you."

The streaming home for TNT Sports in the UK is discovery+, where fans can enjoy a subscription that includes TNT Sports, Eurosport and entertainment in one destination.

Boxing