WBC heavyweight champion Tyson Fury 33-0-1 (24) has become synonymous with retirement throughout his career.
Ever since he stamped his credentials as a top-shelf heavyweight with a points win over Wladimir Klitschko to claim the WBA, WBO and IBF titles eight years ago, he has flirted with retirement and walked away from the sport for lengthy period only to return.
Just last year the 35-year-old said he was retiring after defeating gatekeeper Derek Chisora in December before changing his tune four months later.
The self-styled Gypsy King, who will face former UFC heavyweight champion and boxing debutant Francis Ngannou in Saudi Arabia on October 28, now says he has no intention of hanging up the gloves any time soon.
“I’m looking to sign another 10-fight deal after this, so I don’t know, I’m going to put my feelers out there and see who I can get the best deal off for another 10 fights,” Fury told ESPN.
“What else is there? I retire, plenty of money, plenty of achievement, whatever – 35 [years old]. What am I going to do?
“This makes me fucking happy fighting. This is all I’ve ever done and all that’s ever made me happy. So it’d be stupid now to walk away from it when I’m making millions of dollars and getting loads of joy from it as well.”
Fury is expected to face WBA, WBO and IBF heavyweight champion Oleksandr Usyk 21-0 (14) next if he gets past Ngannou unscathed as anticipated.
“A lot of people are on about this undisputed fight, fantastic,” said Fury. “But I have a much more dangerous person to deal with on next Saturday than I do after for the undisputed fight, I believe.
“Because Francis is a bigger man, stronger, more powerful and has knockout capability. As we’ve seen with Oleksandr Usyk, he doesn’t really do much damage to people he hits. So you could probably let Usyk punch you all about the head and he’ll give you a black eye.
“If you let Ngannou punch you all about the head, he’s probably going to rattle your brain for you.”
“He won’t do anything that I’ve not seen before,” said Fury. “I’ve sparred with a lot of kickboxers and MMA fighters over the years. They’re all strong and tough guys and they all can take a good beating usually.
“So I’m expecting him to be fit and strong and motivated. He’s getting an awful lot of money to be here and fight, so I’m sure he is going to have a good game plan and I’m sure he is going to try and execute it.”
Fury has repeatedly said he sees no value in a fight against domestic rival and former two-time unified heavyweight champion Anthony Joshua 26-3 (23), but it is impossible to think of nine other active boxers more deserving of a shot at the green belt than the 2012 Olympic super heavyweight gold medalist.
The sport remains for Fury, as always, about one thing.
“Boxing is definitely more entertaining when I’m in it,” he said. “I’ll say boxing will be fucked when I’m gone.”
