Boxing legend Mike Tyson has publicly encouraged former heavyweight champion Tyson Fury to reconsider his retirement from professional boxing and make a dramatic return to the ring.
The Retirement Decision
Tyson Fury officially retired from boxing in January 2025, just one month after suffering his second consecutive defeat to Ukrainian champion Oleksandr Usyk. Their December rematch ended with Fury losing by unanimous decision, following his initial split-decision defeat to Usyk in May 2024.
The British boxer, now 37, hung up his gloves after these high-profile losses, though rumours of a potential comeback have circulated within boxing circles since his retirement announcement.
Mike Tyson's Compelling Argument
Speaking via Hard Rock Bet, the boxing icon delivered a powerful message to Fury about the dangers of premature retirement. "Take a couple of months off and come back. Yes, come back," Tyson urged. "You're going to want to come back when you're 40-something, so start doing it now."
Tyson drew from his own experiences, revealing his personal regrets about stepping away from the sport too early. "I said, man, I wish I didn't quit. So you just keep training right now, and keep fighting because you're going to want to do it when you're 40," he explained.
The former heavyweight champion emphasized that Fury should "keep fighting until you can't fight anymore," adding his own philosophical approach: "That's what I do. Keep fighting until I can't... I want to keep fighting until I can't breathe anymore."
The Path Forward for Fury
Tyson believes Fury simply needs a mental break rather than permanent retirement. "He just needs to rest his mind, alright? You just need to relax his mind, and go back and do what he does better than anything else, and that's fighting," Tyson advised.
Regarding Fury's potential return strategy, Tyson suggested: "I think he should get two warm-up fights, you know, but good money fights. He can make a lot of money fighting the contenders, up-and-coming guys. Get warmed up with those guys and go right for the title."
Meanwhile, the boxing landscape continues to evolve, with reports suggesting Oleksandr Usyk is more likely to face British boxer Fabio Wardley next. Wardley earned this opportunity following his surprising victory over Joseph Parker at London's O2 Arena in October.
Fury had previously expressed interest in a trilogy fight with Usyk at Wembley Stadium, though Tyson's advice points toward a different approach - taking on rising contenders before pursuing championship glory once more.
