Boxing pundit Johnny Nelson has expressed concerns that Tyson Fury may pull out of his rematch with Oleksandr Usyk and potentially retire from the sport.
Fury experienced the first defeat of his professional career to Usyk in May, losing the undisputed heavyweight title by split decision after being knocked down in the ninth round.
The rematch is scheduled for December 21 in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, but Nelson doubts Fury will proceed with the fight.
Nelson, a former fighter himself, commented on recent footage showing the 6ft 9in Fury being escorted out of a pub in Morecambe, looking visibly worse for wear. The 35-year-old Fury was seen stumbling and falling, even hitting his head on a lamppost. Nelson defended Fury’s right to drink but suggested that the incident could be linked to the aftermath of his defeat.
Speaking to Seconds Out, Nelson said, “He’s a man, he’s gone out for a drink. That’s it. There’s no law against getting drunk. He’s not done anything wrong, he’s just got p***ed.” He added that Fury might be struggling to come to terms with his loss to Usyk, which could affect his readiness for the rematch.
“I think for Tyson Fury, the realization of what’s happened to him will kick in slowly but surely,” Nelson said. He believes that Fury might retire due to the manner of his defeat and doubts he will fight Usyk again.
Nelson also addressed concerns about Fury’s mental health, recalling Fury’s struggle with depression following his win over Wladimir Klitschko in 2015, which led to significant weight gain and substance abuse before making a notable comeback.
Nelson said, “That’s exactly what it is. All these people around him trivializing it, they’re not in his head. They’re not the guys that took the beating. What does Tyson Fury need? He needs someone to listen to.”
The concern now is whether Fury can overcome this setback or if it will mark the end of his illustrious career.
