Tyson Fury has backtracked after hinting he may retire after he retained his WBC heavyweight title with a sensational sixth-round stoppage of British rival Dillian Whyte at a packed out Wembley Stadium.
Immediately after the fight, The Gypsy King said this could be his "final curtain" as he promised his wife "that after the Wilder Three fight that would be it". He added: "Now it’s all done I have to be a man of my word and I think this is it.”
However, he then set up the prospect of a 'hybrid' fight with UFC heavyweight champion Francis Ngannou.
In his first fight on UK soil since August 2018, Fury was treated to a hero’s welcome by a 94,000 capacity crowd and largely dictated the tempo before ending proceedings in devastating fashion. A vicious uppercut caught Whyte flush on the chin before he was disdainfully pushed over on to his back, and while the mandatory challenger beat the count, referee Mark Lyson waved off the fight.
Whyte could have few complaints at a halt being called with just one second remaining before the fight reached the midway point as he was clearly on unsteady legs after the bout’s first significant strike. The 6ft 9in Fury (now 32-0-1, 23KOs) was able to use his considerable height and reach advantage to keep Whyte at bay while the challenger was made to look clumsy and cumbersome in contrast to his foe.
Whyte, cut over his right eye after an accidental clash of heads, was first installed as the WBC’s number one contender nearly four years ago. However, he was unable to impose himself as he found himself tied up whenever he attempted to close the distance.
Fury has repeatedly suggested in recent weeks that he would end his glittering career and after treating the crowd to a rendition of Don McLean’s American Pie following his win. He said: “This might be the final curtain for the Gypsy King.”
“I promised my lovely wife Paris that after the Wilder Three fight that would be it. I meant it. But I got offered a fight at Wembley and I thought I owed it to the fans, to every person in the United Kingdom, to come here and fight.
“Now it’s all done I have to be a man of my word and I think this is it.”
Fury’s wife Paris said the WBC champion had nothing more to prove to the world of boxing. She told talkSPORT: “The world has seen him reach the pinnacle. He’s just proved it again, the top quality that he is.
“I don’t enjoy this one bit. This is great, the celebratory bit. But all the lead-up and actual fight is a horrible situation to be in. He’s got nothing else to prove in the whole world.”
However, American broadcaster ESPN brought Ngannou - who is months away from the end of his UFC contract - into the ring, and he and Fury appeared to verbally agree to a fight.
"This is going to be one very special fight," Fury told ESPN "It'll be something never before seen in the history of our sport. We're not talking two guys around 140lb, I'm 270lb, he's 270lb. It's going to be an explosive fight when it happens."
"I'm the boxing heavyweight champion, he's the UFC heavyweight champion, he's in great shape, look at the muscles on him," Fury continued. Ngannou added: "We are going to find out who is the baddest mother****** on the planet," to which Fury replied "good man Francis".
Speaking after the fight, Fury said: “I am overwhelmed by the support, I can’t believe 94,000 of my countrymen and women came to see me perform.
“Dillian Whyte is a warrior and I believe he will be world champion. But tonight he met one of the greats in the sport.
“There’s no disgrace. He’s a tough, game man – he’s as strong as a bull and he’s got the heart of a lion. But you’re not messing with a mediocre heavyweight, you’re messing with the best man on the planet.”
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