Tyson Fury retirement 'a negotiation tactic' with British boxing legend not buying it
WATCH NOW: Sports round-up as George Groves discusses Tyson Fury retirement
British boxing legend George Groves isn't buying Tyson Fury's retirement announcement - and thinks the 36-year-old WILL face Anthony Joshua.
Fury shocked the world on Monday when he announced he'd be quitting the sport, just weeks after a second defeat to Oleksandr Usyk.
It is the fifth time the Briton has hung up his gloves, however, with many figures unsure if he actually means it.
Groves, speaking to The Sun, has now made his feelings clear.
Tyson Fury stunned the boxing world by announcing his retirement on Monday
PA
And the British boxing legend isn't buying Fury's comments, with Groves convinced it's merely a 'negotiation tactic' amid talk of a blockbuster bout with Anthony Joshua.
The 36-year-old said: "I mean there probably is a significant part of him that thinks, 'Oh I want to retire.'
"And he might be speaking it into existence. He might get a true feel of what it's like to retire but I don't think he wants to retire.
JUST IN: Tyson Fury receives new job offer less than 24 hours after boxing legend announced retirement
"And boxing moves on so quick, I don't think he's the sort of fella that could walk away if there's a big fight on the table.
"I reckon it's a negotiation tactic, maybe it's a mind game thing with Anthony Joshua."
Groves had a tense relationship with James DeGale during his own boxing career, prior to walking away in 2019.
He acknowledges that Fury and Joshua don't always see eye-to-eye.
But Groves is adamant the two Britons will face each other, while joking that they'll be 'cuddling each other' afterwards.
"I don't think there's that intense rivalry that me and DeGale had where it was too much and we ended up spiting ourselves," he said.
LATEST SPORTS NEWS:
British boxing legend George Groves isn't buying Tyson Fury's retirement
PA
"I don't think that's the case with these two. I don't even think there is that much animosity there.
"For a while they both hated Deontay Wilder, didn't they?
"Joshua hated Wilder then Fury hated Wilder, I just think it was easy for the British icon to hate the American.
Tyson Fury announced his retirement from boxing just weeks after his defeat to Oleksandr Usyk
PA
"But against each other, especially at this time when the fight's only really just been talked about in the past few years, when you're longer in the tooth, start getting softer and start having kids life's too short for these sort of intense rivalries.
"I bet you, if they do box they'll be cuddling each other after."
He continued: "I think they should settle it with a fight. I think we will, I think it happens."
You may like
