FORMER world champion Johnny Nelson fears “devastated” Tyson Fury could RETIRE from boxing following defeat to Oleksandr Usyk.
Fury survived a brutal onslaught in round nine and was saved by the bell after being shaken with a left hand.
TYSON FURY VS OLEKSANDR USYK AS IT HAPPENED: RELIVE ALL THE ACTION FROM THE UNDISPUTED WORLD TITLE THRILLER
The heavyweight division’s first four-belt unification ultimately went down to the wire with Usyk walking away with a famous split-decision win.
A rematch is contracted and eyed for October but ex-cruiserweight champ Nelson warned not to rule out Fury hanging up his gloves for good.
He told Sky Sports: “I think Tyson Fury will be devastated at the result of that.
“Tyson’s team will have serious conversations about motivating him after this and get his mind back.
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“Don’t be surprised if Tyson walks away from this. What more can he do? How can he improve from that?
“This defeat would have done his head in and his heart in.”
Fury, 35, refused to commit to a rematch when probed in the post-fight press conference.
He said: “Straight in the old truck, dog in the back, to the tip, all the same old stuff, picking up dog s*** and cleaning out nappies.
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“On Monday morning when I’m home doing the school run and the kids are shouting and screaming, and the belts are not to be seen and it’s all back to normal, what will it mean then to me?
“It won’t mean anything. For me, it’s just another day at the office, like sitting at the bus stop on Morecambe front and getting wet through and sand hitting you in the face, it’s just another day for me. Just another day in the ghetto.”
Anthony Joshua was ringside in Saudi to watch the bout and cheered on as Usyk, 37, who twice defeated him, took home the belts.
Joshua, 34, is due to return in September at Wembley and could await the verdict of Fury’s expected rematch with Usyk.
For all the love for resurgent AJ… these two are head, shoulders and fists ahead of everyone else
OLEKSANDR USYK is the deserved undisputed heavyweight champion of the world, writes Wally Downes Jr
A great biggun doesn’t always beat a great littleun, not when David has the weight of a besieged nation on his shoulders and is able to swing each compatriot into every punch.
Usyk did what Usyk does, he moved magnificently, he counter punched and he outworked his taller and heavier opponent.
He somehow manages to use every physical disadvantage to his favour.
But what the hell is Fury doing getting up in round nine?
Why is a father-of-eight with £300million in the bank, three best-selling books and a Netflix series going to the well like?
Britain is not fighting back Putin’s army, Morecambe is not occupied.
So when the 35-year-old’s senses are scrambled, when the canvas is calling him, when he is so desperate not to be felled he is willing to bounce around all the ropes like a drunk, when he eventually has to collapse into a corner, why doesn’t he just stay down?
He has earned the right to surrender as well as his millions.
The sheer courage and guts and bloody mindedness it takes to climb off that deck, with a broken nose and a crumbling ego is not comprehensible to us mortals.
Fury said he felt he won the fight but was too dignified to call robbery or corruption, no doubt his dad will taint that decency by the time you’ve read this.
The rematch will be superb.
Because for all the love we have for a resurgent Anthony Joshua – who was ringside for that iconic event – these two polar opposite men are head, shoulders, fists, hearts and brains ahead of everyone else.
There is the top two, then there is a void and then there is the rest.
Read Wally’s big fight verdict in full here…
Source: Boxing - thesun.co.uk
