Former WBC world heavyweight champion, Tyson Fury, has shocked the boxing world by announcing his retirement from the sport years after his wife, Paris, begged him to hang up his gloves.
In a statement which has stunned his legion of loyal fans, the Gypsy King, 36, told his followers on social media that he was hanging up his gloves for good, declaring: "I'd like to announce my retirement from boxing. It's been a blast, I've loved every single minute of it. I'm going to end with this. Dick Turpin wore a mask. God bless everybody, see you on the other side. Get up!"
Paris, 35, who shares seven kids with the former heavyweight champion, is yet to comment on the retirement news. However, the boxer's childhood sweetheart begged her man to get out of the ring years before his shock reveal on Monday.
In 2020, she urged the WBC and lineal champion not to fight Deontay Wilder. Her reasons revolved around Tyson's safety as she told the Mirror: “I’d like him to beat Anthony Joshua and then stop. He’s in the ring with supreme boxers and it is a dangerous sport. We both know the risks. I know one shot can change everything.
“If they put all the belts on the line it would be such an amazing fight. I’d like him to take that one fight and retire undefeated. He can’t go on forever, he can’t go undefeated forever. I wouldn’t like to see him continue for too long and get hurt.”
Fury was due to fight Anthony Joshua later this year, but the outcome of that match will have to remain a mystery as the father-of-seven seems adamant his time in the ring is over.
In May this year, Paris pleaded with Tyson again, giving Tyson an ultimatum as she demanded that the World Champion boxer give up his passion once and for all amid fears that he will be killed in the ring.
The outspoken sportsman has been professional boxing for close to 14 years. Tyson retired from boxing in 2022, but after suffering with his mental health while idle and away from his passion, he decided to re-enter the ring again last year.
While Tyson's younger brother Tommy, who is also a professional boxer, was supportive of his big brother getting back in the ring - having flown to the United Arab Emirates to watch him fight last year - the same can't be said for Paris, who admitted she was terrified that Tyson could lose his life.
Paris previously revealed her feelings towards Tyson and his boxing career on their hit Netflix show, At Home with the Furys. The mum-of-seven admitted that on the lead up to Tyson's fights, she is crippled with anxiety and worry for her husband, and can't help but harbour concern that one wrong punch could kill the father of her children.
Speaking to Mail Sport ahead of his fight with Francis Ngannou last year, Tyson admitted that he sees where Paris is coming from, and feels sympathy for her having to watch him fight amid fears that it could be his last. The Gypsy King said: "It must be horrible knowing your husband can be killed in a fight and you've got six kids, seven in a minute, to look after on your own. That's got to be nerve wracking.
Caption: Tyson Fury (left) during his bout with Oleksandr Usyk.
