TYSON Fury has assured pals “it’s not over” despite his devastating world heavyweight defeat to Oleksandr Usyk.
The Gypsy King flew back to Britain yesterday after hitting out at the judges’ decision in Saudi Arabia – sparking retirement rumours.
He is now set for a Christmas “blowout” with 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 win to the Ukrainian on Saturday night.
Dad-of-seven Fury flew back to Manchester on a private jet yesterday afternoon for a reunion with his family after spending the last three months at training camp.
His promoter Frank Warren said the fighter plans a traditional Christmas at his home in Lancashire before he makes any decision on his future.
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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 rival AJ is already being discussed for next year, with Wembley Stadium touted as the perfect venue.
Speaking after the fight, AJ’s promoter Eddie Hearn said the clash has to finally happen after being mooted for years.
He added: “There’s only one fight for Tyson Fury and that’s Anthony Joshua. It’s the biggest fight probably in the history of British boxing.
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“Everyone will always want to see it. For me, AJ against Fury is the one, it’s the one at Wembley. It will be a huge global event.”
Warren agreed, telling The Sun it would be “brilliant”.
He said: “It’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 it will only happen if Tyson wants to do it and that’s a big if. And if he doesn’t want to do it, then so be it.”
The veteran promoter raised hopes of the pair facing off, saying: “Look, Tyson’s a fighting man, that’s what he’s driven by, that’s what gives him a sense of purpose.”
The fight would rake in around £250million through box office and pay-per-view revenues.
Boxing insiders say the fighters could pocket purses in excess of £100million.
Fury, 36, is already estimated to have a net worth of £110million, while 35-year-old Joshua’s wealth tops £100million.
Hearn hopes to sign a two-fight deal for London and Riyadh.
The pair, who have now both lost twice to Usyk, had originally agreed to fight in Saudi Arabia in 2021.
But a judge ruled US boxer Deontay Wilder was entitled to exercise his option to fight the Gypsy King instead.
Joshua was knocked out by fellow Brit Daniel Dubois in September.
Dubois, who holds the IBF world title, was branded an “embarrassment” for confronting Usyk in the ring after Saturday’s fight.
Dubois, knocked out by Usyk in 2023, grabbed a microphone and said: “I want my revenge for the robbery last time. Let’s go, let’s go. Make it happen Frank!” Usyk said he was open to a rematch but first wanted “to go home and rest”.
It came after Fury had stormed out when all three judges deemed Usyk the winner.
Fury was comforted by wife Paris, who he had not spoken to for three months amid intense pre-fight preparations.
He said later: “What’s next for me? I’m going home and having some time off.”
Asked if the public will see him fight again, he added: “You might do, you might not do. Who knows? We’ll talk about that next year.”
He previously revealed he will be downing “plenty of eggnog and mince pies, turkey, and all that” this Christmas.
Warren praised his fighter, who has battled mental health demons.
He said: “It’s how it should be, he wants a traditional Christmas. He wants to switch off and be with his family. He’s been in training camp for three months.
“He hasn’t spoken to his family for three months, that’s how determined he was to win this fight.
“From my perspective I don’t want him to make any decisions, or even discuss boxing, until he’s ready. If he said to me tomorrow he wants to fight on, I’d say OK. If he said he wants to retire, I’d say, ‘Great, whatever you want to do, I’m with you’.”
He claimed Fury’s legacy is assured, whatever he decides 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 in the heavyweight division. And you think where he’s come from, how he’s championed mental health, he has bipolar, he has had a lot of problems outside the ring and he’s been a champion in beating them. On top of that he’s a decent person.
“He deserves his downtime now, go and rest up and then make his decision as to what he wants to do. There’s lots of options there, including a Joshua fight.”
Fury, who lost the first Usyk fight in May on a split decision, raised his hand in celebration at the end of a dramatic 12 rounds in Riyadh on Saturday night.
But he was left reeling when all three judges scored the fight 116 to 112 in Usyk’s favour.
Fury claimed later they had given Usyk, 37, a “Christmas gift”.
He said: “There’s no doubt in my mind I won the fight, that’s it, we can’t cry over it.
“We didn’t feel no spirit, we felt a bit of Christmas spirit in there and I think he got a little Christmas gift from them judges.
“It is what it is, I’m not going to cry over spilt milk, it’s happened now. I know boxing, I’ve been in it all my life, you can’t change a decision but you always feel a little bit hard done by, not a little bit, a lot.
“But when you don’t get the knockout this is what happens, you can’t guarantee a win. In that fight there, he never hurt me once, I’ve got a couple of flesh wounds, they’ll be gone in two or three days.
“Not a mark on me, but listen, it is what it is, I know what’s happened, I’ll go home, there’s not much else I can say.”
Meanwhile Warren raged: “How did Tyson only win four rounds? It’s impossible. It’s nuts! Crazy! That’s nonsense. I am dumbfounded, I don’t get it.”
He added: “Tyson is gutted. He won the fight. I am biased — but I’m not stupid.”
An AI judge also had Usyk as victor, by 118 to 112.
But Fury was not impressed, blasting: “F**** all the computers, keep the humans going. More jobs for humans, less jobs for computers. F* electric cars too, while we’re at it.”
Among the stars at the Kingdom Arena were actor Jason Statham with model partner Rosie Huntington-Whiteley, and snooker legend Ronnie O’Sullivan.
Brit Lennox Lewis was seated beside fellow ex-heavyweight world champ Wladimir Klitschko, while former featherweight world title holder Naseem Hamed was also there watching.
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Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky hailed Usyk’s win, calling it proof that the country “will not give up what’s ours”.
He posted on Telegram: “Victory! So important and so necessary for all of us now.”
Source: Boxing - thesun.co.uk
