Tyson Fury decided to retire rather than face Oleksandr Usyk again

Usyk beat Fury last month, and he was dragged out of a pub in Morecambe last Saturday following a night out.

Former world champion Johnny Nelson predicts Tyson Fury will retire instead of fighting Oleksandr Usyk again.

Fury was defeated by Usyk last month in their undisputed heavyweight world title bout in Saudi Arabia. The Brit suffered his first professional defeat after dominating the opening half of the bout before Usyk turned the tide. Fury hasn’t been heard from since the final bell, and he was recorded being led out of a bar by security last weekend.

The clip also showed the former world champion striking the deck while outside. Fans are now concerned that Fury is struggling to cope with her loss to Usyk and may not fight their scheduled rematch on December 21.

And Nelson told Seconds Out: “I believe the realization of what has happened to him will come slowly but certainly. I do not believe Tyson Fury will fight Oleksandr Usyk again. He [Fury] either gives up or Usyk retires or moves down [to cruiserweight].

“I don’t think he’ll fight Usyk again; I believe he’ll retire due to the manner of his defeat, and he’ll just be unable to live with it. Perhaps his legs are still intact, but he is no longer the fighter he once was. His last fight and the one before that [Francis Ngannou] told us this. Maybe it’s time.”

Nelson also suggested Fury has not been at his best since his first bout with Deontay Wilder in 2018, which resulted in a disputed draw after Fury twice climbed off the mat. “When you’re that successful financially and gotten to the top, unless you really love it and you’re prepared to rough it out and get back there again, why would you listen to anybody that you think is a lesser man than you to tell you what to do?,” he stated.

“His first fight against Deontay Wilder was his final standout performance. Tyson Fury may train well, but I believe we last saw the best of him in his first bout versus Wilder.