Tyson Fury’s own manager Spencer Brown was unaware he would announce his decision to retire from boxing.
Fury was beaten by Oleksandr Usyk for a second consecutive time in December last year, which saw his future in the boxing ring plunged into doubt.
But options still remain on the table for the ‘Gypsy King’ including a two-fight deal with bitter rival Anthony Joshua, who is keen to make the meeting happen in 2025.
Though Fury had different ideas and stunned the world on Monday by announcing his retirement from the sport with immediate effect.
It took everyone completely off guard, similarly to in the past with Fury having announced his retirement on two previous occasions in 2013 and 2022 only to make a U-turn.
And incredibly it was fresh news to his whole team including manager Brown, who wasn’t aware any decision had been taken when Fury confirmed the news on social media.
He told The Ring: “No I can tell you that we didn’t have a prior conversation [before the video was released].
“He went for a coffee as he usually does, and he probably sat there and decided to do it.
“He rung me afterwards and said, ‘I’ve just let the cat out the bag I’m retiring Spencer’.
“I said to him, ‘Yhanks for letting me know!’, he said, ‘You’d have only talked me out of it.’
“I would have liked to see him perhaps go one more, but no. But it is like being stabbed when watching him fight, it’s horrible.”
Brown then added a tribute to his charge, when discussing why he believes Fury came to the realisation.
GettyFury’s decision was first heard on a social media video yesterday[/caption]
He told Beyond Radio: “It’s been such a privilege to work with him. I love the man to death.
“I’ll ring him every day. I’ll still remain his manager and we will just see what happens in the future.
“He might go into films. He might be a wrestler. Who knows what he’s going to do? You never know with Tyson Fury.
“He can’t spend the money he’s got. Maybe he wants to take the next step in his life, you know?
“He’s been a character since the start. He’s a giant of a man. He’s been involved in all sorts of controversy over his time.
“There’s never a boring moment with Tyson. He says what he wants to say, when he wants to say it.
“He’s a boxing enigma and he’ll be sorely missed. It’s going to be boring without him.”
Fury has had a stellar career reigning as a unified world heavyweight champion at the peak of his powers.
But after suffering the first two defeats of his career, his motivation for boxing may have finally fizzled out.
British boxing fans are still clamouring for a showdown against Joshua, which will still be arguably the most high-profile fight in the sport commercially.
Albeit no titles would be on the line with AJ having himself being beaten by Daniel Dubois, the clash would still be for more than belts given the bragging rights of the rivalry remain up for grabs.
Fury now appears to have put that to bed, but it could well be a bargaining tool with talks still able to take place if he decides to make another U-turn.
The 36-year-old has previously suggested he could struggle to turn his back on the sport, given it would leave a sizeable void in his life.
But for now he has put down the gloves, and Joshua will need to find alternative opponents if he chooses to fight on in 2025.
