We won’t be seeing Tyson Fury in the ring for a while.
Fury has vacated the WBO and WBA world heavyweight titles he won last year to deal with his ‘medical treatment and recovery’.
The move preempts and decision boxing authorities may take to revoke his licence after he admitted to taking cocaine to deal with depression.
Spent this eve with @Tyson_Fury hard giving his belts up that he's earned the hard way. We're a strong family & he will be back 100%
— peter fury (@peterfury) October 13, 2016
The 28-year-old has not fought in the ring since defeating Wladimir Klitschko in November 2015. Two scheduled rematches have been postponed due to Fury withdrawals. In a statement released late last night, Fury commented:
“I now enter another big challenge in my life which I know, like against Klitschko, I will conquer. I feel that it is only fair and right and for the good of boxing to keep the titles active.
“I won the titles in the ring and I believe that they should be lost in the ring,” he added, “but I’m unable to defend at this time and I have taken the hard and emotional decision to now officially vacate my treasured world titles.”
Hennessy Sports, Fury’s promoters, said the boxer’s decision would allow him ‘time and space to fully recover from his present condition without any undue pressure and with the expert medical attention he requires’.
It now looks increasingly likely that Klitschko will next fight IBF champion Anthony Joshua with all three belts at stake.
Check out the latest episode of The GAA Hour, in which we talk players statements, club football’s fixture glut and catch up with Clare’s new hurling manager(s).
