Bob Arum: Tyson Fury Should Stay Retired

By: Sean Crose

Noted boxers are known to make comebacks after they retire. And while the recently passed George Foreman proved that Father Time can be held off if not defeated, there’s little doubt that as as general rule, ring comebacks generally don’t go well for the fighter. Legendary promoter Bob Arum is clearly aware of this fact (decades in the business certainly offer a large degree of insight), so former world heavyweight titlist Tyson Fury, who has battled under Arum’s Top Rank Promotion’s banner might want to lend the man an ear.

“I think Tyson Fury,” Arum recently old Sky Sports, “owes it to himself and his family to remain happily retired.” Interesting words from a man who, along with Fury’s other promoter, Frank Warren, could see a lot of money should Fury decide to turn to the ring. “I believe he has a lot in front of him,” Arum continued. “He is a good communicator and is an entertainer, but I don’t think he should step in the ring again because I think he’s had enough.”

Arum clearly believes that Fury has fought his way to enough big paychecks to move on from trading punches for a living. “In the last few years of his career,” Arum said, “he earned so much money his family or himself is never going to want for money. I would advise him not to ever go back in the ring, but to make himself useful as a spokesperson because he can communicate extraordinarily well.” But what about those fans – particularly those English fans -who have long awaited a showdown between Fury and fellow Brit (and fellow former world heavyweight titlist) Anthony Joshua?

“As you know,” Arum said, “I’m not a Brit, so I’m not as fascinated by an Anthony Joshua vs Tyson Fury fight as a Brit may be…so it doesn’t move me that he’s walking away from boxing and walking away from that fight.” Still, even Arum admits he doesn’t know what path Fury will decide to take in the future. “Tyson is a very outward kind of person,” he said. “He communicates well and reaches out and expresses what he thinks. But that being said, I really don’t know what deep down he’s going to do because I don’t think he really does.” Without doubt, it’s hard to tell what Fury will decide on from one moment to next. Indeed, it’s one of the more notable traits about the man.