Tyson Fury admits he may retire after his crossover clash with former UFC heavyweight champion Francis Ngannou and walk away from uncontested fight with Oleksandr Usyk

Tyson Fury admits his controversial crossover clash with Francis Ngannou could be his last appearance in the squared circle.

The pair will face off in a 12-round professional boxing bout in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, on October 28.

Ngannou, a former UFC heavyweight champion, has never boxed before, but he’ll jump in line and face arguably the best boxer in the glamor division in two months time.

Many fans had hoped to see the WBC titleholder fight unified WBO, WBA (super) and IBF champion Oleksandr Usyk in the first undisputed four-cushion heavyweight bout of the era.

However, negotiations for an April date fell through after the two sides failed to agree on how to split the purse for their rematch.

Ngannou is the former UFC heavyweight champion, but will make his boxing debut that night

It is expected that Fury and Usyk will resume those discussions once they have dealt with their soon-to-be enemies – the Ukrainian faces WBA mandate Daniel Dubois in Wroclaw, Poland, on August 26.

But that won’t be the case if Fury decides to walk away from the sport for good.

“Age catches up with everyone,” Fury admitted during a performance on Heart Radio. ‘And every top athlete aged 35 is probably past his peak.

“But I just feel like I’m getting better and more intelligent as I get older. So who knows how long I’ve got?

“Maybe not long, maybe a year, maybe two years. Maybe one fight. Who knows?’

Fury briefly retired after defeating Dillian Whyte in April 2022, but re-entered the ring later that year against Derek Chisora.

Nine years earlier, he had claimed he was done with the sport after his fight with David Haye was called off for a second time.

Then again, ‘The Gypsy King’ was pulled back during this time due to an argument in Belfast with Kevin Johnson.

Boxing purists hope Fury and Oleksandr Usyk restart negotiations for the first undisputed four-cushion heavyweight title fight of the era after failing to get the fight across the line before April

Fury knows all too well how hard it is to let go of boxing, but insists he won’t let his welcome last too long.

“I think every fighter knows when it’s time to walk away. But they always leave it too long anyway. I’m sure I’ll make the right decision,” he added.

‘I have a lot to do in my life. I have many children and I must be in the right mind.

“I don’t need to get injured or anything because it would have all been for nothing – the whole career.”