‘I don’t like it’ – Turki Alalshikh to hold Tyson Fury talks about retirement u-turn but clarifies £500m fight purse rumour
Turki Alalshikh will leave Tyson Fury alone for now, but intends to hold talks with him over reversing his retirement decision. Fury announced his shock retirement from the sport, just weeks after losing to Oleksandr Usyk for the second time. Fury has declared he won’t fight again, after losing to Oleksandr Usyk twiceMark Robinson / Matchroom Boxing His decision to hang up his gloves came as a shock, given talks were expected to take place over a mega showdown with Anthony Joshua in 2025. Fury’s promoter Frank Warren insisted he would not attempt to convince the British icon to make a U-turn and return to the ring this year. But Saudi boxing chief Alalshikh, who has been integral to the sport’s growth since his arrival on the scene, joined talkSPORT to react to the decision. He first suggested that, as a boxing fan, he was sad with the decision to retire, but understands why Fury made it. He told White & Jordan on talkSPORT: “First of all, this kind of decision has to be from the fighters. “It must be whatever they are thinking if they have something to give or not. As a fan of boxing, I don’t like it. “We want to see Tyson in more big fights, but I can understand his decision. “But over time this decision can change.” When asked if he will hold talks with Fury over a U-turn, he replied: “Yes, of course. “I will support him and discuss it with him. I will leave him for some time to be with his family, then we can discuss it. Alalshikh will open talks with Fury after the decision has settledGetty “But a lot of rumours don’t help us. No-one will propose £500 million for a fight, these numbers are incorrect.” Chairman of the General Entertainment Authority for Saudi Arabia, Alalshikh, went on to add Fury’s potential fight with Joshua on his dream list of fights to make in 2025. The ‘Gypsy King’ has already made U-turns on decisions to retire from the sport in the past, after opportunities have presented. Fury first retired after his showdown with David Haye collapsed in 2013, but decided to stay in the sport. The British heavyweight most recently suggested he was done from boxing before and after beating Dillian Whyte in April 2022. But he elected to make a full comeback and continued his career with a victory over Derek Chisora in December that year. Alalshikh still dreams of seeing Fury face JoshuaGetty The 36-year-old has since suffered back-to-back defeats against Usyk, and lost his place in the world title mix. But a commercial blockbuster two-fight deal with Joshua will always be on the cards, given boxing fans are determined to see the rivalry culminate in a ring meeting. Joshua himself has pleaded for the bout to happen, and before his retirement decision, declared his intentions to enter negotiations. He said to Ring Magazine: “It’s a fight I want to see because I am a fan of boxing. “When I am in the gym, everyone is asking me [about this fight]. I ain’t got many years ahead of me. “I want to leave the game with a bang and make an impact. Everyone is asking me the same question. “It’s up to me to deliver, that’s why I’m saying it has to happen this year. “I think we can make this fight happen.” Follow talkBOXING on social media talkBOXING is now on Twitter and Facebook. Follow us on social media for big breaking boxing news, exclusive interviews and the best bits from our talkBOXING YouTube show. Like our Facebook page HERE Follow us on Twitter HERE Sign up for our WhatsApp channel HERE
Turki Alalshikh will leave Tyson Fury alone for now, but intends to hold talks with him over reversing his retirement decision.
Fury announced his shock retirement from the sport, just weeks after losing to Oleksandr Usyk for the second time.
His decision to hang up his gloves came as a shock, given talks were expected to take place over a mega showdown with Anthony Joshua in 2025.
Fury’s promoter Frank Warren insisted he would not attempt to convince the British icon to make a U-turn and return to the ring this year.
But Saudi boxing chief Alalshikh, who has been integral to the sport’s growth since his arrival on the scene, joined talkSPORT to react to the decision.
He first suggested that, as a boxing fan, he was sad with the decision to retire, but understands why Fury made it.
He told White & Jordan on talkSPORT: “First of all, this kind of decision has to be from the fighters.
“It must be whatever they are thinking if they have something to give or not. As a fan of boxing, I don’t like it.
“We want to see Tyson in more big fights, but I can understand his decision.
“But over time this decision can change.”
When asked if he will hold talks with Fury over a U-turn, he replied: “Yes, of course.
“I will support him and discuss it with him. I will leave him for some time to be with his family, then we can discuss it.
“But a lot of rumours don’t help us. No-one will propose £500 million for a fight, these numbers are incorrect.”
Chairman of the General Entertainment Authority for Saudi Arabia, Alalshikh, went on to add Fury’s potential fight with Joshua on his dream list of fights to make in 2025.
The ‘Gypsy King’ has already made U-turns on decisions to retire from the sport in the past, after opportunities have presented.
Fury first retired after his showdown with David Haye collapsed in 2013, but decided to stay in the sport.
The British heavyweight most recently suggested he was done from boxing before and after beating Dillian Whyte in April 2022.
But he elected to make a full comeback and continued his career with a victory over Derek Chisora in December that year.
The 36-year-old has since suffered back-to-back defeats against Usyk, and lost his place in the world title mix.
But a commercial blockbuster two-fight deal with Joshua will always be on the cards, given boxing fans are determined to see the rivalry culminate in a ring meeting.
Joshua himself has pleaded for the bout to happen, and before his retirement decision, declared his intentions to enter negotiations.
He said to Ring Magazine: “It’s a fight I want to see because I am a fan of boxing.
“When I am in the gym, everyone is asking me [about this fight]. I ain’t got many years ahead of me.
“I want to leave the game with a bang and make an impact. Everyone is asking me the same question.
“It’s up to me to deliver, that’s why I’m saying it has to happen this year.
“I think we can make this fight happen.”
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