Tyson Fury left no doubt about his position in the heavyweight division when he defeated Dillian Whyte within six rounds on Saturday.
“The Gypsy King” floored “The Body Snatcher” with a swift uppercut that laid Whyte out flat and was waved off by the referee after he stumbled hard upon getting up from the canvas.
The two fought before a boisterous crowd of 94,000 for the all-Britain clash. Fury improved to 32-0-1 with 23 KOs, while Whyte fell to 28-3 with 19 KOs. However, Fury reclaimed the British fans who he hadn’t fought in front of since 2018.
To Retire Or Not Retire
In October, Fury, 33 years old, made his second title defense after defeating Deontay Wilder in 2020 via a seventh-round KO, followed by an 11th-round KO of Wilder for one of the best trilogies of all time.
However, Fury had floated the idea that he would retire after the fight and the world patiently waited to see what he would say in the postfight interview.
“I promised my lovely wife, Paris, of 14 years that after the Wilder 3 fight, that would be it, and I meant it,” said Fury during the postfight interview. “It was a great trilogy, and I meant that.
“But I got offered to fight at Wembley, at home, a fight I deserved; I owed it to the fans; I owed it to every person in the U.K. to fight at Wembley. And now it’s all gone; I have to be a man of my word and think this is it. This might be the final curtain of the Gypsy King.”
Tyson Fury explains why he will never be lured out of retirement by money…
[📽️ @BTSportBoxing] pic.twitter.com/roUo7LhVGZ
— Michael Benson (@MichaelBensonn) April 23, 2022
Undisputed?
Many are hoping that Fury will come back to face the winner of Oleksandr Usyk vs. Anthony Joshua 2 to become the world’s undisputed heavyweight champion. Usyk defeated Joshua last September via unanimous decision taking his WBO, WBA (Super), IBO, and IBF heavyweight titles.
However, Fury flipped the script after knocking out Whyte, inviting current UFC heavyweight champion Francis Ngannou into the ring at Wembley.
“I want to find out who is the baddest motherf***er on the planet,” Ngannou said once inside the ropes, making rumors of the two wanting to fight each other a potential reality.
❤️ The people's champion @Tyson_Fury creating the most meaningful moments in victory. #FuryWhyte pic.twitter.com/vBB61JLfM3
— Frank Warren (@FrankWarren) April 23, 2022
Onward To Francis Ngannou
Although Ngannou is still under contract with the UFC, he is in a heated contract renegotiation with the organization currently. However, if UFC President Dana White wants, he can give Ngannou a pass to fight Fury in boxing or a hybrid of sports.
“I want to have fun. I’m an entertainer. It’s what I do best,” Fury said during the postfight press conference. “Big Francis Ngannou is here today, he’s on my hit list in an exhibition fight, however he wants it: in a cage, in a boxing ring, boxing gloves, UFC gloves, we can make it happen.
“I think everyone wants to see it. He’s a monster of a guy, I’m a monster of a guy, so it will be a clash of the titans for sure.”
Boxing’s Heavyweight Champion standing next to the UFC Heavyweight Champion.
Francis Ngannou says that him and Tyson Fury will fight under hybrid rules.
In a boxing ring but with MMA gloves. pic.twitter.com/UmndMNgyzX
— MMA History Today (@MMAHistoryToday) April 23, 2022
Bring The Fury
Ngannou spelled it out in more detail to the media.
"Definitely sometime next year. 2023. That fight will happen!"
"Tyson Fury vs. Francis Ngannou in Africa. The Rumble in the Jungle 2!"@francis_ngannou is adamant the @Tyson_Fury fight will happen! 👀#FuryWhyte pic.twitter.com/h4wuQGGsvO
— UFC on BT Sport (@btsportufc) April 23, 2022
“Definitely sometime next year, 2023, that fight will happen, because by the end of this year we’re gonna sort it out and get settled,” Ngannou said to BT Sport. “Ready to go. Tyson Fury vs. Francis Ngannou in Africa, that would be the best one. The Rumble in the Jungle 2.”
Although he threatens the world with his exit, Fury still sounds like a man obsessed with fighting more than ever.
