Former world heavyweight champion Tyson Fury said Monday he had retired from boxing just weeks after suffering a second straight defeat at the hands of Oleksandr Usyk. “I’m going to make this short and sweet,” the British fighter said in a social media post. “I’d like to announce my retirement from boxing.” “It’s been a blast, I’ve loved every single minute of it,” added Fury, who has, however, previously quit only to return to the ring. The “Gypsy King”, 36, last fought on December 21 when he lost his rematch against WBA, WBC and WBO champion Usyk in Riyadh.

Asked after the fight whether the public would see him fight again, Fury said: “You might do, you might not do. Who knows?”

Fury enjoyed two stints as heavyweight champion and retires with a record of 34 wins, two defeats and one draw.

He announced he was quitting after beating Dillian Whyte in April 2022 but returned to action later that year.

Frank Warren, who promotes Fury, told the BBC he had not spoken to the boxer prior to his retirement announcement.

“I’ve said all along that there is no way I will be trying in any way to influence him,” Warren said.

“If that what he wants to do, that’s great. He’s done everything he can do. Probably been the best British heavyweight of his generation by far.

“Two-time world champion, two closely fought fights against Usyk. He’s got plenty of money, got his wits about him, got a lovely family. God bless him, enjoy.”

All three judges scored last month’s fight in Saudi Arabia 116-112 in Usyk’s favour.

The Ukrainian won their first fight in May 2024 by split decision.

Fury’s retirement appears to mean he will not take on another former world champion, Anthony Joshua, in a long-anticipated all-British showdown.

Joshua said Saturday that a fight with Fury “has to happen this year”.

And Joshua’s promoter, Matchroom’s Eddie Hearn, said he doubted it was the end of the road for Fury.

“If you haven’t got a heart for it anymore and you don’t want to compete anymore, I think retirement is the best option,” Hearn said.

“Disappointing obviously for British fight fans because we’ve got the chance to make the biggest fight in boxing but if that is the last we see of him, he’s had a great career. I doubt it (is the last time we will see him box).”

Fury became world champion for the first time when he shocked Ukraine’s Wladimir Klitschko in November 2015, becoming WBA, IBF and WBO champion.

He was then out of the ring for more than two-and-a-half years, during which he tackled mental health issues.

Fury returned to action in 2018 and became a two-time champion by beating Deontay Wilder to claim the WBC belt in 2020 in the second of a trilogy of fights against the American.

He overcame a big scare against converted MMA fighter Francis Ngannou in 2023, before losing twice to Usyk last year.

Oleksandr Usyk and Tyson Fury were locked in a bad-tempered face-off for a full 11 minutes on Thursday as preparations for their heavyweight rematch turned serious. Defending champion Usyk and Fury, who suffered his first career defeat to the Ukrainian in May, stared each other down just inches (centimetres) apart and mostly in silence, before the Briton began taunting his rival. Fury, stung by his split-decision loss, has appeared laser-focused during fight week in the Saudi capital as he seeks to hand Usyk his first professional defeat.

“Talking’s been done… I’ve talked and joked all my career,” the stone-faced Fury told the press conference earlier.

“This time I’m serious. I’m going to do some damage here, on Saturday night.”

“I’m going to dish out a whole lot of pain. I’m going to put (Usyk) in the hurt locker, for sure,” added Fury.

Usyk refused to indulge in trash-talk and shrugged off the hoopla of the packed press conference at VIA Riyadh, a swanky mall in the Saudi capital.

“Now we have just a performance, those cameras, lights,” he said, in comments translated by his promoter Alex Krassyuk.

“Everything’s going to take place on Saturday night.”

Usyk, 37, takes a 22-0 record into Saturday’s fight at Kingdom Arena, including six victories since the former undisputed cruiserweight champion stepped up a division.

“Gypsy King” Fury, 36, is 34-1-1 and bidding to avenge his sole career loss suffered seven months ago at the hands of the skilful Usyk.

British media have reported a prize purse of £150 million ($190 million), with Usyk expected to receive the bigger share.

Oil-rich Saudi Arabia is investing heavily in sport to raise its profile, prompting accusations of “sportswashing”, or using sport to distract from its human rights record.