Tyson Fury blasted by Frank Warren as the boxing promoter claims: “This is madness. He has a self-destruct button but he can’t keep doing it to the sport
World heavyweight champion mocks the sport he should be representing with distinction by penning explosive tweet to 'retire' before announcing it was a joke
TYSON FURY pressed his own self-destruct button . . . AGAIN.
The latest chapter in the life and crimes of British sport’s most controversial character saw him ‘retire’ yesterday before revealing it was all a bizarre joke.
Fury mocked the sport he should represent with distinction by tweeting: “Boxing is the saddest thing I ever took part in, all a pile of s***.”
Despite later claiming he would eventually return to defend his heavyweight throne, the damage was done.
He tweeted: “Good news is I’m getting the right help and I’ll be back even stronger than before. Try and stop me!”
His earlier outburst added to a long rap sheet punctuated by TWO withdrawals from a contracted rematch with Wladimir Klitschko, a no-show at a press conference, a UK Anti-Doping charge and a more recent accusation of cocaine use.
These are not the actions of a man desperate to return to the ring and fight for the biggest prize in boxing once more.
When Fury, 28, toppled Klitschko last November, he wrote his name into the history books as the unified world heavyweight champion.
Klitschko had not lost since 2004 and the Gypsy King unseated him in his adopted home of Germany to win the WBO, WBA Super and IBF belts.
Fury was soon stripped of the IBF title when Klitschko, 40, activated the rematch clause — and that seemed to trigger something in the Brit’s psyche.
Fury already believed he had not been afforded the respect he deserved for his achievement of defeating Klitschko outside the UK. And his recent actions highlight just how fragile his state of mind is.
Frank Warren, whose BoxNation channel was due to televise Fury-Klitschko II later this month, said: “We’re all responsible for our own actions and he sits there and uses Twitter and sends these stupid photographs. It’s madness.
“All he’s doing is harming himself. It’s a waste of talent but what can you do? You can’t keep making excuses for it.
“When you do sit him down, he speaks sensibly.
“It’s like a self-destruct button he’s got.
“When you look at what he’s done, it amazes me. This guy won the world title, for me the most outstanding performance of a boxer last year.
“To go into Klitschko’s backyard, take his title away and then not fight again is crazy.
“People have put their money up, their time, and obviously his health must come before that.
“But he can’t keep doing this to himself and his family and he can’t keep doing it to the sport.
“I think if he’s retired, he’s retired.”
Fury has sparked outrage over his extreme views, which included rants against homosexuality and abortion, plus sexist comments aimed at athlete Jessica Ennis-Hill and women in general.
Yet the Fury I have met and interviewed, when he is away from an audience, is an articulate giant who loves his family.
He is still seen as a man of the people — one who would happily buy you a drink. And he did exactly that while partying with England fans at Euro 2016.
Of course, there comes a time when even the most loyal supporters run out of patience.
Fury will be stripped of his WBA Super and WBO belts without ever defending them.
Boxing has to move on but the door will remain open should the Mancunian beat his demons.
