WBC heavyweight champion Tyson Fury revealed his April 23 all-British title defense against Dillian Whyte at Wembley Stadium will be his last fight as the title-holder hammered his opponent for not showing up at a scheduled press conference.
Speaking to reporters after the official media event, Fury declared the fight against Whyte would be his last, saying: “This is the final fight of my career, I’m retiring after this.
“$150 million ($A207m) in the bank, healthy, young, I’m gonna buy a massive yacht abroad. I’m retiring, I’m out, this is my final fight, I’m done,” he added.
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The way Fury delivered the message suggested his words may not hold much weight and were designed to stir up rival Anthony Joshua and his promoter Eddie Hearn.
Whyte was a no-show to publicise the fight, with Fury’s U.K. promoter, Frank Warren, claiming the challenger demanded and then turned down the offer of a private jet to fly him over from his Portugal base.
Fury said Whyte’s no-show “has given me that much more confidence.”
“He’s definitely shown the fight flag in this fight, the way he’s going on about not going face to face,” Fury said at Wembley. “Of course he doesn’t. Because he’ll see the fire in my eyes and think, ‘I’m getting smashed to bits.’
“It’s fear, it’s terror, I don’t blame him for not being here today … The build-up to the fight will be fantastic because Tyson Fury versus his own shadow sells.”
As for Whyte, it’s his first world title fight. He’s entitled to 20 per cent of the $A56 million purse, making it his career-high payday.
Whyte only signed the contract for the fight at the last minute, with Warren saying Whyte had sought to renegotiate terms.
“I’ve never heard of a fighter not showing up to a press conference,” Warren said.
“He’s getting eight times more than Tyson got to fight (Wladimir) Klitschko, he’s getting more than (Anthony) Joshua got paid to fight (Charles) Martin, he’s getting more than (Oleksandr) Usyk got to fight Joshua.
“Champions bank on themselves to win. That’s what they do to become the king — you win the title, you get the money.
“It’s just not right. We are where we are but Dillian Whyte is in Portugal. He should be here. It’s disgraceful that he’s not here, it’s not professional.”
Whyte has only lost two of the 30 fights he’s contested as a professional, while Fury remains unbeaten, with 31 victories and one draw from his 32 fights. He believes he is a cut above his next opponent.
“You’re going to see a boxing masterclass, you’ll see the difference in levels, you’re going to see the Ferrari racing the Vauxhall Corsa in a race,” said Fury.
“There’s levels to this game.
“I’m not saying Dillian Whyte’s not capable of winning a fight because he’s won nearly 30 fights but there’s a gulf in class here. If I’m daft enough to get knocked out by him then I don’t deserve to be world heavyweight champion.”
– with AP
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