‘This man did it right’: Tyson Fury hails UFC great Khabib Nurmagomedov after he retired ‘on top’, in a potential hint he may also choose to step away at the pinnacle of boxing as he gears up for Dillian Whyte bout
- Khabib Nurmagomedov announced his shock UFC retirement last October
- Tyson Fury has hailed his decision to step away from the sport at its pinnacle
- His tweet is an apparent hint that the Gypsy King may now look to do the same
- Fury is currently gearing up to take on Dillian Whyte in his next big showdown
Tyson Fury has hailed MMA great Khabib Nurmagomedov and hinted he may choose to follow his example by bowing out at the very top of boxing.
The Gypsy King will look to defend his WBC heavyweight strap when he faces Dillian Whyte, with the long-winded purse bids finally reaching a conclusion last week.
Previously, he has suggested he may retire after achieving his man ambitions, indicating he is eager to become undisputed champion and take on Anthony Joshua.
Tyson Fury has hinted he may copy Khabib Nurmagomedov and retire at the top of his sport
UFC great Nurmagomedov (left) stepped away from the octagon with an unbeaten record
Praising Nurmagomedov on social media, Fury tweeted: ‘This man did it right. Got in & won and got out on top. Big respect Team Khabib!’
Nurmagomedov enjoyed success in the lightweight division in UFC and chose to step away from the Octagon with his unblemished record still intact.
He reeled off victories over Al Iaquinta and later Conor McGregor to take, and then defend, the title – and also held firm against Dustin Poirier and Justin Gaethje.
Fury hailed Nurmagomedov’s stylish exit, in an apparent hint he may choose to do the same
After his final showdown with Gaethje, the 33-year-old fighter hung up his gloves.
Fury briefly mentioned the prospect of retiring after beating Deontay Wilder in their trilogy bout, but will now mount another defence of his title against Whyte.
After that, he will look to take on the winner of the mouth-watering rematch between Joshua and Oleksandr Usyk, who defeated the Briton in London last September.
The Gypsy King is now focused on taking on Dillian Whyte next after the purse bids concluded
Outspoken star Fury, 33, previously said he has ‘one more year or so’ left at his peak.
‘Every good dog has its day. Me being a good dog, my day is nearly over,’ he told iFL TV. ‘[I’m] 33-years-old and I’ve been through hell and back.
‘I’ve ballooned up and down to 28 stone. I’ve been back up and down all my life, I haven’t got a 40-year-old career in me.
Previously, superstar Fury has suggested he has ‘maybe another year or so’ left at his peak
‘I’ve got maybe another year or so left, and that’s it. Another couple of fights, and that’s it. I’m out. I’ve got nothing to prove. I’ve got nothing to finalise with anybody.
‘All I want to do is enjoy what I’ve done now, and that’s it. Have another couple of fights. I know my dad will be glad to see me walk away after a couple of fights.
‘I’ve got a couple of fights left in me. Win, lose, or draw them, you’re going to see a good fight. That’s guaranteed.’