Tyson Fury gets green light from his wife to come out of retirement
The 35-year-old Gypsy King hung up his gloves for the umpteenth time after his second consecutive loss to Oleksandr Usyk in December.
But Joshua's promoter Eddie Hearn has confirmed his star attraction is waiting by the phone for a call and Fury's wife Paris – who lost a baby boy six months into her 2024 pregnancy – has given her man the green light to return.
UFC 318: Holloway vs Poirier 3 | SUN 20 JULY 12PM AEST | One of the most iconic careers in MMA history will come to a close, as UFC veteran Dustin Poirier makes his final walk to the Octagon for a trilogy with current BMF Champion Max Holloway. | Order Now with Main Event on Kayo Sports.
The undisputed heavyweight decider between Ukraine's unbeaten WBC, WBA and WBO champ Usyk and London's IBF holder Daniel Dubois is taking place at Wembley on July 19.
After that four-belt rematch, The Sun reports Fury will be able to weigh up his options and cherry pick his opponent.
Speaking at the latest mega-money IBA show in Turkey, Fury revealed: 'Although AJ has been a rival of mine for 10 years, he has been a fantastic advocate for British boxing and has played the game well.
'I wouldn't say I hold all the power over him but if he's only sitting there and waiting for me to come, he could be waiting a long time.
'He might be f***ing 60 by the time I decide I want him – or it might be next week.
'I am looking forward to contemplating the idea of returning.
'I am taking it all on board and I will make a decision in the forthcoming few months.'
One thing that could still stand in the way of the biggest all-English fight in British boxing history is Fury's desire for a hometown crack at Usyk, after two desert defeats.
'The all-British fight with Joshua will be big and if we both go to our grave – without having fought each other – it would be a travesty for British boxing,' Fury said.
'But I feel like, what I really want is revenge.
'But I only want to fight Oleksandr Usyk at Wembley, in front of 100,000 people, and lift all the belts. That would be my dream.
'My second dream would be that massive fight with Anthony Joshua.
'I am a prize fighter first and foremost. So, if the money is right, then we can do a deal. If the money is right then it's a deal.'
Fury seemed to announce his latest retirement in a hasty rage, from the front seat of his ten-year-old Land Rover Defender on his Morecambe driveway.
Nobody expected it to last long and he admitted the itch never showed any sign of leaving him in peace.
The 205cm veteran explained: 'Retirement is not easy to handle, every day I wake up and start shadow boxing and inside I want to fight.
'I will never ever get over that because I have been born and bred to do what I do – I mean did!
'It's hard to let it go when it's something I enjoy. It's hard, f***ing hard man. It's hard to walk away from it.
'I have had offers and Paris has said she will support me and that has made me smile.
'It might be because she is sick of me being at home with her, or it's because she is my ride-or-die, we're Bonnie and Clyde.'
Fury's childhood sweetheart Paris lost their baby in the build-up to the first Usyk loss in May 2024.
Incredibly the mother of seven hid the devastating news from her man so he could focus on the fight.
And Fury confirmed that heartbreaking scenario made this latest – albeit predictably brief hiatus – an easy one to enjoy.
'Yes it made retirement a lot easier,' he said.
'The hardest thing for me around that first Usyk fight was that I could not be there, for the person who has been there the most for me in my life, when she needed me the most.
'That was the toughest thing.'
Usyk will defend his undisputed heavyweight titles against Dubois, with the fight a rematch of their 2023 bout, where Usyk defeated the Brit by TKO.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
ABC News
21 minutes ago
- ABC News
How one iconic song will ensure Diogo Jota's legacy will live forever in Liverpool for the fans who loved him
It's a cold night and inside arguably the most iconic stadium in English football, Liverpool's Anfield, more than 60,000 fans belt out a chant that echoes around the stadium as the Reds search for a winner. "Oh! He wears the number 20. He will take us to victory," the Liverpool fans sing in unison to the tune of Creedence Clearwater Revival's Bad Moon Rising. "And when he's running down the left wing, he'll cut inside and score for LFC." The song is for Diogo Jota. Not the best player on the team. Not the most famous. But so loved by the fans that his tune hums around the crowd in a way that makes Anfield one of the most intimidating stadiums for rival teams to play at. Liverpool fans are known for coming up with creative songs to honour their beloved players during games, and Jota's song is one of the catchiest tunes of them all. The Kop end of Anfield, where Liverpool's most rabid and loyal supporters are stationed, often sing Jota's song for minutes on end along with the others. When Liverpool is trailing in a game or needs a winner, the Kop seemingly sucks the ball into the back of the goal with its variety of songs. There are so many iconic songs that the club should probably release an album at some point. The thing about the songs is not every single Liverpool player gets one. Sure, stars such as captain Virgil van Dijk and leading goalscorer Mohamed Salah have their own ones, but to get a song as a player who isn't one of the very best at the club means you are absolutely adored. And my goodness, was Jota adored. Whether you're a fan or not, it is indisputable that Liverpool is a club that is quite unlike the other powerful clubs across Europe. Not every single million-dollar megastar footballer fits into Liverpool, even if your on-pitch product is excellent. To really fit into Liverpool, the team, you need to absorb yourself into Liverpool, the city. Jota did this as well as any player to have ever worn the famous Liver bird on his chest. The Portuguese forward was a lethal finisher on the real-life pitch, but he became just as well known among Liverpool fans for his exploits on the virtual pitch. Jota, an avid gamer, emerged as one of the world's best FIFA video players during the COVID-19 lockdown. He famously beat future Liverpool teammate Trent Alexander-Arnold in the FIFA ePremier League Invitational final in April 2020, just months before he signed with the Reds. Jota eventually rose to claim the world-number-one position on the FIFA 21 Champions Leaderboard for PlayStation in February 2021, with an incredible 30-0 record for the month. Hilariously, Liverpool fans up late playing a game of FIFA the night before one of Liverpool's actual matches would sometimes find themselves playing against, and getting pummelled online, by Jota himself. More often than not, Jota would usually follow this up with a goal or two playing for Liverpool the following day on the actual pitch as well. Jota's gaming exploits made him infinitely more accessible and relatable to Liverpool's adoring fans than many of the team's other players. One of the best parts about big sporting organisations such as Liverpool is the charitable work they can do as a club to help those less fortunate. Players are often encouraged by their media teams to partake in various events. Usually they do what they're asked and no more. But the rare athlete goes above and beyond when not asked, and this was Jota. After his death, Her Sport, an Irish platform that shines light on women and girls in sport, touched on the tremendous work Jota did during his time at Liverpool. "At Liverpool FC, whenever there was a campaign about women or keeping girls in the game, Diogo Jota showed up," the statement read, in part. "Not because he had to. Because he understood WHY it mattered." "We believe everyone has a duty to care about equality and equity. Jota understood that and acted on it." Jota, in his own words, didn't consider himself a role model, such was his humility, but he absolutely carried himself like one. He arrived at Liverpool a time that would have been difficult for many other players. When Jota signed with the Reds, he joined a core group of players who had won a Premier League and a Champions League in the 18 months preceding his arrival. Fitting into a team that is essentially a galaxy of stars is extremely difficult, but Jota did it seamlessly. The Portuguese was the glue in a powerful Liverpool team both on and off the pitch. Off the pitch, he provided endless laughter with his antics. "He was such a good guy. The best. So genuine. Just normal and real," wrote Jota's teammate Andy Robertson. "Full of love for the people he cared about. Full of fun. "He was the most British foreign player I've ever met. We used to joke he was really Irish … I'd try to claim him as Scottish, obviously. I even called him Diogo MacJota." On the pitch, he slotted in brilliantly whenever and wherever he was required. Jota came to Liverpool as a left-sided attacker and joined a team that boasted one of the best forward trios in the world at the time in Sadio Mané, Roberto Firmino and Salah, and somehow managed to hold his own. In 182 games for Liverpool, Jota would either start on the left, or sometimes as the central striker, and sometimes as a spark plug off the bench to launch a rescue mission. Whatever position he played in, he scored goals that just mattered. Of the 65 goals he scored, somehow all of them now feel like winners. He was equally adept and lethal on either foot. There were Derby goals home and away against Everton, a crucial strike away at Manchester City when the 2022 title race went down to the final day of the season, a famous FA Cup goal away at Arsenal, and an iconic winner at the Kop end against Tottenham barely seconds after the kick off following a Spurs goal in injury time. It is fitting that Jota scored the first goal of Liverpool's Premier League-winning campaign in 2024-25. The final goal of his life summed up Jota, the footballer, in a nutshell. He combined brilliantly with Luis Diaz on the edge of the box and dribbled past multiple Everton defenders to net the second-half winner at the Kop end to give Liverpool a 1-0 Derby win. The win over Everton on April 3 virtually sealed the title and Jota wheeled away in celebration after the goal, pointing to the Liver bird on his chest. He was signed in 2020, wore number 20 and played a crucial role in Liverpool winning Premier League number 20. It is likely that the club will retire the number in honour of Jota. It is so devastatingly sad that there will be no more Jota goals at Anfield, no more Jota goals anywhere. When the Reds are searching for a late winner, there will be no more number 20 rising up off the bench to come on to supply it. But his song will be sung for generations and generations to come. "He's a lad from Portugal, better than Figo don't you know?" "Oh, his name is Diogo!" Rest in Peace, Diogo Jota. You'll Never Walk Alone.
ABC News
an hour ago
- ABC News
Olivia Rodrigo and Cate Blanchett among celebrities spotted at Wimbledon
Each English summer, there is just as much star power in the royal box and stands at Wimbledon as there is on Centre Court. The royal box, which seats about 80 people at the south end of Centre Court, is reserved for members of the royal family and a host of "illustrious guests". The only way to get a seat is to secure a personal invitation from the club chair, Deborah Jevans. Guests are treated to tea, lunch, drinks and extravagant gift bags. As you can guess by the name, there is an open invitation to members of the royal family, but actors, musicians, athletes, heads of government and tennis stars also frequent the spot. "It's so special in the royal box to have those kind of people in there. It definitely adds a bit of pressure, I guess, if you look up and you kind of recognise [them]," British tennis player Emma Raducanu said in an interview after her match. "That's why I try and stay with my eyes on the court as much as possible. "Only after, you kind of look up and take it all in, if they're still there." Here are all the famous faces we have seen during the first week of Wimbledon. On day one of the championships, Princess Beatrice, took her seat in the royal box alongside her husband Edoardo Mapelli Mozzi and mother Sarah, Duchess of York, to witness reigning champion Carlos Alcarez play on Centre Court. Also in the box were English football legend David Beckham and his mother Sandra. Actor Eddie Redmayne, donned in Wimbledon finery, watched the match with his wife Hannah Bagshawe. Jason Isaacs looked far more relaxed seated at Centre Court than the character he recently played in the latest season of White Lotus. Up in the stands, actor Jessica Alba had her 17-year-old daughter, Honor Warren, as her plus one. The honour accorded every reigning ladies' singles champion is that they open Centre Court play on Day two. Recognisable Australians Russell Crowe, Cate Blanchett and Rebel Wilson all watched the match between Barbora Krejčíková and Alexandra Eala. It was a stacked royal box for Carlos Alcaraz and Oliver Tarvet's second-round match on day three. Fresh off her appearance at Glastonbury, singer Olivia Rodrigo took her seat in the royal box in a strawberries-and-cream-coloured dress with her partner, actor Louis Partridge. Sat next to Rodrigo was WWE wrestler-turned-actor John Cena and his wife Shay Shariatzadeh. In front of them was Olympic diver Tom Daley. Musician Dave Grohl, actor Priyanka Chopra Jonas and Nick Jonas were also spotted. Mamma Mia actor Dominic Cooper as well as actress Leslie Mann and her producer husband Judd Apatow were also in attendance. British television presenter and author Bear Grylls swapped his usual survival gear for a suit and sat in the royal box on day four at Centre Court. Actress Celia Imrie took her seat in the front row. Up in the stands, Eve Hewson, an actress and daughter to US frontman Bono, chatted to television presenter Dermot O'Leary. Former Formula 1 star Daniel Ricciardo and comedian Jack Whitehall were also spotted. With nine of the tournament still to come, there is no doubt plenty more royal and famous faces will be spotted in the box and the stands.
News.com.au
3 hours ago
- News.com.au
George Russell ‘ringing around' rival F1 teams looking for a job
George Russell will be ringing rival F1 teams looking for a job in fear Max Verstappen is set to replace him at Mercedes, according to Martin Brundle. With tensions already high between the two drivers, Russell would have hoped Verstappen's name was the last he'd have to worry about when it comes to his seat. But with huge speculation over Verstappen's future at Red Bull, The Sun reports Mercedes have emerged as the front runner to sign up the four-time world champion. Fox Sports, available on Kayo Sports, is the only place to watch every practice, qualifying session and race in the 2025 FIA Formula One World Championship™ LIVE in 4K. New to Kayo? Get your first month for just $1. Limited time offer. And with Kimi Antonelli only replacing Lewis Hamilton last year, Russell is seen as the more likely to lose his place at the Silver Arrows. Brundle told Sky F1 that he believes the British driver will be calling around other teams to make sure he has a place on the grid next season. 'I think George Russell is nervous and ringing around a little bit,' he said. '2026 is massive, biggest change ever in F1 for the chassis and power unit and you guess Mercedes will be there or thereabouts. 'Would you put Red Bull [there] and can Max actually get out of his contract? Something's up.' The rumours began with Verstappen and Mercedes last year, and they have resurfaced again after his performance-based release clause was revealed. It's understood that if the 27-year-old isn't in the top three of the Drivers' Championship at the summer break, the clause can be triggered. Verstappen currently is third in the standings, but ironically, just nine points ahead of Russell who could leap ahead of him if he enjoys a successful British Grand Prix this weekend. More speculation about Verstappen's future arose during last weekend's race in Austria. The Dutchman crashed out of the Grand Prix on the first lap after being shunted by the Mercedes of Antonelli. But the normally hot-headed driver was remarkably calm. 'Every driver has made a mistake like that,' Verstappen said. 'No one does that on purpose, so for me, that is not a big deal.' Many fans were left shocked by his cool reaction, with ex-Williams and McLaren cult hero Juan Pablo Montoya even suggesting they were 'already teammates'. 'If you wanted to read into things, why was Max so nice to Kimi after their collision? Are they already teammates?' Montoya said. Were Russell to leave Mercedes, Aston Martin has been tipped as a possible destination. Verstappen has also been linked with Aston Martin to rejoin former Red Bull racing engineer Adrian Newey.
