TYSON Fury has assured friends it’s “not over” despite his crushing world heavyweight defeat to Oleksandr Usyk.
The King of the Gypsies flew back to Britain yesterday after rebelling against the referee’s decision in Saudi Arabia – sparking rumors of retirement.
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Tyson Fury sparked retirement rumors after losing his world heavyweight title fight with UsykaCredit: Getty
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Tyson reunites with wife Paris, whom he hasn’t spoken to in three months due to intense pre-fight preparations Credit: TNT Sports
He is now set for a Christmas “blow off” with his family ahead of a possible £250million clash with rival Anthony Joshua.
Tyson warned fans they may never see him box again after the judges controversially awarded the Ukrainian victory on Saturday night.
Father-of-seven Fury flew back to Manchester on a private jet yesterday afternoon to be reunited with his family after spending the last three months in training camp.
His promoter Frank Warren said the fighter was planning a traditional Christmas at his home in Lancashire before making any decisions about his future.
However, The Sun can reveal the former world champion has told pals: “It’s not over.”
And a £250million Battle of Britain mega-fight with rivals AJ is already being mooted for next year, with Wembley Stadium touted as the perfect venue.
Speaking after the fight, AJ’s promoter Eddie Hearn said the bout finally had to happen after being discussed for years.
He added: “There is only one fight for Tyson Fury and that is Anthony Joshua. It is probably the biggest fight in the history of British boxing.
“Everyone will always want to see it. For me, AJ vs Fury is the one at Wembley. It will be a big global event.”
Warren agreed, telling the Sun it would be “brilliant”.
He said: “That’s what people will want to watch. The Fury/Joshua fight is a great fight and if it happens it will be a mega fight, it will be brilliant. But that’s only going to happen if Tyson wants to do it, and that’s a big if. And if he doesn’t want to do it, so be it.”
Oleksandr Usyk shows his true colors with a classy message to Tyson Fury after winning their heavyweight rematch
The veteran promoter raised hopes the pair would face off, saying: “Look, Tyson is a fighting man, that’s what drives him, that’s what gives him a sense of purpose.”
The fight would earn around £250 million through box office and pay-per-view revenue.
Boxing insiders say the fighters could earn more than £100m.
Fury, 36, is already estimated to have a net worth of £110m, while 35-year-old Joshua’s fortune exceeds £100m.
Hearn is hoping to sign a two-fight deal for London and Riyadh.
The pair, who have now both lost twice to Usyk, originally agreed to fight in Saudi Arabia in 2021.
But the judge ruled that American boxer Deontay Wilder was entitled to exercise his option to fight the Gypsy King instead.
Joshua was knocked out by the British Daniel Dubois in September.
Dubois, who holds the IBF world title, was branded a “disgrace” for clashing with Usyka in the ring after Saturday’s fight.
Dubois, who was knocked out by Usyk in 2023, grabbed the microphone and said: “I want revenge for the robbery last time. Let’s go, let’s go. Make it happen Frank!” Usyk said he is open to a rematch, but wants to “go home and rest” first.
It happened after Fury stormed out as all three judges declared Usyk the winner.
Fury was comforted by his wife Paris, whom he hadn’t spoken to in three months amid intense pre-fight preparations.
He later said, “What’s next for me? I’m going home and have free time.”
Asked if the public will see him fight again, he added: “Maybe you will, maybe you won’t. who knows. We’ll talk about that next year.”
He previously revealed that he will be eating “a lot of eggnog and mince pies and turkey and all that” this Christmas.
Warren praised his fighter who has battled mental health demons.
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Fury is eyeing a potential £250m clash with Anthony JoshuaCredit: Getty
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Actor Jason Statham and Rosie Huntington-Whiteley in the audience in Riyadh Credit: PA
He said: “That’s the way it should be, he wants a traditional Christmas. He wants to switch off and be with his family. He has been in the training camp for three months.
“He didn’t talk to his family for three months, he was so determined to win this fight.
“From my perspective, I don’t want him to make any decisions, or even talk about boxing, until he is ready. If he told me tomorrow that he wants to fight further, I would say OK. If he said he wanted to retire, I would have said, ‘Great, whatever you want to do, I’m with you’.”
He claimed Fury’s legacy was secured, whatever he decided to do next.
Warren said: “He’s a two-time world champion, he’s been in so many epic, spectacular fights in the 21st century at heavyweight. And think about where he came from, how he advocated for mental health, he has bipolar disorder, he had a lot of problems outside the ring and he was a champion in overcoming them. Above all, he is a decent person.
“He deserves a break now, go and rest and then make a decision about what he wants to do. There are a lot of options there, including a fight with Joshua.”
Fury, who lost Usyk’s first fight in May by split decision, raised his hand in celebration at the end of the dramatic 12 rounds in Riyadh on Saturday night.
But he was left upset when all three judges scored the fight 116 to 112 in Usyk’s favor.
Fury later claimed they had given Usyk, 37, a “Christmas present”.
He said: “There’s no doubt I won the fight, that’s it, we can’t cry about it.
“We didn’t feel any spirit, we felt a bit of Christmas spirit in there and I think he got a little Christmas present from the umpires.
“What, I’m not going to cry over spilled milk, it’s happened now. I know boxing, I’ve been in it all my life, you can’t change the decision, but you always feel a little bit hard, not a little, a lot.
“But when you don’t get a knockout, this is what happens, you can’t guarantee a win. In that fight there, he never hurt me, I have a few wounds on my flesh, they will go away in two or three days.
“Not a trace on me, but listen, that’s right, I know what happened, I’m going home, I have nothing else to say.”
Meanwhile, Warren raged: “How did Tyson only get four rounds? It’s impossible. That’s crazy! Crazy! That’s nonsense. I’m stunned, I don’t understand.”
He added: “Tyson is broken. He won the fight. I’m biased — but I’m not stupid.”
The AI judge also had Usyk as the winner, 118 to 112.
But Fury wasn’t impressed, so he exploded: “Damn it, all the computers, let the people move on. More jobs for people, less jobs for computers. F* electric cars too, for that matter.”
Among the stars at the Kingdom Arena were actor Jason Statham with model partner Rosie Huntington-Whiteley, and snooker legend Ronnie O’Sullivan.
Britain’s Lennox Lewis sat next to fellow former world heavyweight champion Wladimir Klitschko, while former featherweight world title holder Naseem Hamed also watched.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky hailed Usyk’s victory, calling it proof that the country “will not give up what is ours.”
He announced on Telegram: “Victory! So important and so necessary for all of us now.”
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Daniel Dubois, who holds one of the heavyweight belts, was in attendanceCredit: PA
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Snooker’s Ronnie O’Sullivan watched the clashCredit: PA
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Fury narrowly lost the fightCredit: Getty
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