Tyson Fury vs. Wladimir Klitschko 2 is off once again, as the unbeaten Englishman has withdrawn from the fight due to mental health issues. Fury’s promoter, Mick Hennessy, said in a statement that Fury is "medically unfit to fight" and will "undergo the treatment he needs to make a full recovery." Insiders reportedly informed Telegraph Sports that Fury is suffering from depression, which he has admitted to struggling with in the past.
butcher5603 put up a fanpost about this earlier, so go give him props once you’re done here.
The rematch has been an absolute disaster from day one. In addition to Fury’s issues with UK Anti-Doping, he pulled out of the planned July date with an ankle injury and recently missed a press conference, which he blamed on a litany of technical issues. The rest of the card hasn’t been exempt from the drama, either, as Andy Ruiz Jr. just days ago elected not to sign the contract pitting him against Hughie Fury in the co-main event.
Oh, and Ovill McKenzie got sick, so he probably won’t be fighting Craig Kennedy that night.
I have all the sympathy in the world for Tyson’s issues; I’ve dealt with depression my entire life and know how it can utterly poison your every effort. I do, however, also recognize that Klitschko is forty years old and has officially wasted the last ten months on a fight that will by all indications never happen.
I hope Tyson gets well soon, but the division has to keep moving.
Eddie Hearn seems to agree, as he’s already floating the idea of Anthony Joshua taking on Klitschko for Fury's WBO and WBA titles in November. That’d certainly be worth watching.