LONDON (AFP) – Tyson Fury said he made his brief retirement from boxing because he knew no other way of “keeping it sane”.
After beating Dillian Whyte at Wembley in April the undefeated World Boxing Council (WBC) heavyweight champion said he was hanging up his gloves.
But the 34-year-old reversed his decision several times before confirming he would defend his title in an all-British bout against Derek Chisora at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium in London on December 3.
That fight was set up after Fury’s attempts to call out fellow world heavyweight champion Oleksandr Usyk and British rival Anthony Joshua failed to produce a high-profile fight.
In an interview with BT Sport boxing, Fury said he returned after experiencing similar emotions to those he felt after his shock win over Wladimir Klitschko in 2015.
That victory gave Fury the World Boxing Association (WBA), International Boxing Federation (IBF) and World Boxing Organisation (WBO) belts, but he soon suffered alcohol and drug problems that led to a public mental health breakdown.
“After I beat Dillian Whyte in April, I really meant retirement and I couldn’t have been more sure of something in all my life,” Fury said.
“I had a few months out of the ring, I was writing my third book and I am producing a song as well for the World Cup, so I was really busy. But, without boxing, I just felt I didn’t have any purpose in my life anymore.
“For the four months I was retired, I’ve never felt so back to 2015, 2016, 2017 ever before.
But I was back in that moment in that time where life was very dull, very dark and there was no way back for me.”
He added: “I ain’t back boxing for a belt. Or back boxing for some more money, to win another five or 25 fights or to unify the division, I am boxing because of this (his head).
“And without it, (my head) is going downhill rapidly and I don’t know any other way of keeping it sane. This is me being brutally honest, speaking from the heart. I do not know how to quit.”
During the interview, Fury said he was open to more bouts on home soil and even a fourth fight against Deontay Wilder.
But the fight Fury wants above all others is with Ukraine’s Usyk, who defended his WBA, IBF and WBO belts against Joshua in Saudi Arabia in August.
