Tyson Fury ready to retire at the top after Klitschko triumph

New world champion Tyson Fury says he could retire at the top rather than fight again.
Tyson Fury holds his belts during a homecoming event at the Macron Stadium, Bolton. Simon Cooper/PA WireTyson Fury holds his belts during a homecoming event at the Macron Stadium, Bolton. Simon Cooper/PA Wire
Tyson Fury holds his belts during a homecoming event at the Macron Stadium, Bolton. Simon Cooper/PA Wire

The Morecambe giant shocked the world when he outboxed Wladimir Klitschko to become the undisputed heavyweight king in Dusseldorf on Saturday night.

There is a rematch clause in the contract with the Ukrainian great, 39, having until January to decide on his own future.

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But new IBF, WBO, WBA, IBO and Ring champion Fury insists he could elect not to lace up the gloves again having done what many thought impossible and beat a man who hadn’t tasted defeat for 11 years.

Tyson Fury holds his belts during a homecoming event at the Macron Stadium, Bolton. Simon Cooper/PA WireTyson Fury holds his belts during a homecoming event at the Macron Stadium, Bolton. Simon Cooper/PA Wire
Tyson Fury holds his belts during a homecoming event at the Macron Stadium, Bolton. Simon Cooper/PA Wire

The undefeated 27-year-old said: “I’m not really interested in boxing at the moment.

“I’m going to enjoy what I’ve done and I’ll make a decision on boxing later. Retirement is a thought.

“It’s not about money for me or else I’ll carry on until I couldn’t walk any more.

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“It’s not about defending 100 times or staying on top for 35 years or breaking records.

“For me it was about beating Wladimir Klitschko, the man who couldn’t be beaten.

“It took a travelling lad to go over there and do it. Well done Tyson.”

Speaking to The Visitor after a packed media conference at Bolton Wanderers’ Macron Stadium, Fury admitted the gravity of what he had done, becoming just the eighth British heavyweight to become world champion, hadn’t dawned on him yet.

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The former British and European champion, who is set to be fast-tracked into sporting superstardom, said: “It definitely hasn’t sunk in yet.

“I’m still waiting for it to finally sink in and it seems like a dream, a surreal experience.

“I’m just really happy that it’s not a dream and that it did really happen.”

The victory was orchestrated with a fine gameplan that saw Fury make the champion look every one of his 39 years.

The resort puncher insists he can be even better though.

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He said: “I could have done better but I didn’t need to because it was good enough to take the belts.

“I’m the world champion.

“It was a good performance but it was what it was.

“I’m really happy with how it went. I knew I was too good for Klitschko and I got the job done.”

Fury had always insisted he needed to win by knockout on Klitschko turf but got the nod on all three judges’ cards after a career-changing display.

He said: “I didn’t have to (win by knockout) because it was such a wide decision.

“He didn’t really land any punches. You can’t win rounds by landing one or two punches.

“He caught me with one right hand and one left hook in the whole fight and you can’t win fights like that.”

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