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Fury retracts retirement claim

October 3, 2016

World heavyweight champion Tyson Fury is not retiring. That's now official, at least according to his most recent social media comments. Tweeting: "I'm here to stay," he reversed his earlier announcement about quitting.

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Tyson Fury gegen Wladimir Klitschko Boxen
Image: Reuters/L. Smith

"Hahahaha u think you will get rid of the GYPSYKING that easy!!! I'm here to stay. #TheGreatest just shows u what the Medea [sic] are like. Tut tut" Tyson Fury wrote on Twitter late on Monday, seemingly amused that most of the world's press had fallen for his earlier announcement that he was quitting the sport. 

Fury had said earlier on Monday that was retiring from boxing after a positive drug result. He had tweeted: "Boxing is the saddest thing I ever took part in, all a pile of shit, I'm the greatest, & I'm also retired..."

Having hung up his gloves for all of three hours, he returned and also said: "Soon as I get better I'll be defending what's mine the heavyweight thrown [sic]."

Fury has courted controversy since winning the world title and angered many with a series of sexist and homophobic comments, but his most recent troubles have revolved around drugs tests.

US broadcaster ESPN reported that Fury had tested positive after providing a urine sample to the Las Vegas-based Voluntary Anti-Doping Association (VADA) in Lancaster, England on September 22. Cocaine is an illegal drug but is not banned in boxing if taken out of competition. He is due to face a hearing in November and could have been stripped of his titles if found guilty.

Vladimir Klitschko and Tyson Fury before their bout in 2015
Vladimir Klitschko and Tyson Fury before their bout in 2015Image: picture alliance/empics/S. Cooper

The fighter recently canceled a planned October bout at the Manchester Arena with Vladimir Klitschko to defend his WBA and WBO heavyweight belts - in what would have been the 28-year-old's biggest purse of his career.

Fury beat the Ukrainian last November to become world champion and a previously scheduled rematch with Klitschko, set for July 9, was scrapped after Fury injured his ankle. His camp also claimed he was "declared mentally unfit to fight." Fury's uncle and trainer Peter Fury said recently that the boxer was "almost at breaking point" and receiving professional help.

Fury appeared to make light of the reports in a Twitter post on Saturday, posting a picture of Tony Montana - played by Al Pacino in the film 'Scarface' - sitting at a table with a pile of cocaine in front of him. Fury imposed his own face onto the picture, which he captioned "#Tysonmontana."

In another tweet on Monday, Fury said he was "getting the right help" and would "be back even stronger than before."

jbh/msh (AFP, dpa)