When Tyson Fury said he was hanging up his gloves on Monday after two defeats to Oleksandr Usyk, it sounded like the end of an era. But George Groves, former world champion, isn’t buying it.
“This is Fury we’re talking about,” Groves told SunSport, suggesting the retirement is nothing more than a chess move aimed at setting up a grand showdown with Anthony Joshua. Fury’s mind games aren’t new, and Groves believes the "Gypsy King” has no intention of stepping away for good.
Eddie Hearn, the man leading Joshua’s career, seems to agree. “If you ever want to come back and get the max, you have to retire first, haven’t you?” Hearn told iFL TV, hinting at Fury’s calculated attempt to create a trend for his eventual return.
And that return? It’s all about Anthony Joshua. Fresh from his visit to Nigeria, where he met President Bola Tinubu, Joshua is already dreaming of a 2025 clash with Fury. He’s clear about his intentions to reclaim his place as a three-time world champion and finally go head-to-head with Fury in what would be an all-British big bang.
Fury’s “retirement” isn’t exactly new territory. This is the third time he’s bid farewell to the sport, only to return with even more hype. His first two retirements, in 2018 and 2022, eventually led to spectacular returns, including a dominant win over Derek Chisora.
Fury exits, I believe is temporarily, perhaps with a legacy intact, 34 wins, two losses (both to Usyk), and zero knockouts suffered. But Groves has one more twist to add to the story.
“I bet you, if they do box they’ll be cuddling each other after,” Groves quipped, imagining a future where the animosity turns into camaraderie after they finally share the ring.
The Fury-Joshua saga isn’t just a fight, it’s a story, a game of strategy, and, above all, a spectacle waiting to unfold.
