Mike Tyson's 'quit' statement to Tyson Fury says everything about retirement

Boxing legend Mike Tyson has urged Tyson Fury to U-turn on his decision to retire from the sport earlier this year. Fury hung up his gloves in January – just one month after his unanimous-decision defeat to Oleksandr Usyk in their second fight.

The Ukrainian also claimed victory in the first fight in May 2024 by split decision, and there are reports that Fury may eventually make a comeback. The former heavyweight world champion has previously expressed his intention to fight Usyk in a proposed trilogy showdown at Wembley Stadium.

However, it seems more likely that the unbeaten Ukrainian will next face Fabio Wardley, following the British boxer's surprise win over Joseph Parker at London's O2 Arena in October. Nevertheless, Tyson has urged Fury to return to the ring next year - sharing his belief that the 37-year-old just needed a break from boxing.

READ MORE: Chris Eubank Jr makes final promise to Conor Benn ahead of rematch

READ MORE: Anthony Joshua vs Jake Paul fight rules and date become clear

“Look, take a couple of months off and come back. Yes, come back. You’re going to want to come back when you’re 40-something, so start doing it now," he said via Hard Rock Bet.

“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.

“If you quit now, when you’re 40, you’re going to say, wow, I wish I could… I wish I didn’t stop fighting. Keep fighting until you can’t fight anymore.

“That’s what I do. Keep fighting until you can’t… if I can’t… I want to keep fighting until I can’t breathe anymore. Keep fighting. Knock me out, f*** it.

“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. He’s going to be very unhappy when he’s 40 and say, I could’ve fought them, guys, I shouldn’t have stopped fighting. He needs to just take a little breather, and then come back.”

When asked who Fury should fight next, he added: “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.”