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LONDON: Tyson Fury says he briefly retired from boxing because he didn’t know of any other way to “stay sane”.
After defeating Dillian Whyte at Wembley Stadium in April, the undefeated WBC heavyweight champion said he was hanging up his gloves.
But the 34-year-old reversed his decision several times before confirming he will defend his title in the All England round against Derek Chisola at London’s Tottenham Hotspur Stadium on December 3 .
The fight came after Fury’s attempts to call out world heavyweight champion Oleksandr Usyk and British counterpart Anthony Joshua failed to produce a high-profile fight.
In an interview with BT Sport Boxing, Fury said he was returning to the ring after experiencing emotions similar to those he experienced after beating Wladimir Klitschko in 2015.
The victory earned Fury WBA, IBF and WBO gold belts, but he soon suffered from alcohol and drug abuse that led to a public mental health breakdown.
“After I beat Dillian White in April, I really meant to retire, and I swear to God, I’ve never been more certain in my life,” Fury said.
“I’ve been away from the ring for a few months, I’m writing my third book, I’m also working on a song for the World Cup, so I’m really busy. But, without boxing, I just don’t feel like I’m living a better life. No more goals.
“In the four months I’ve been retired, I’ve never been back in 2015, 2016, 2017 like I am now. But I’m back in that time, and life is very dull, very dark, and there’s no way out for me.”
He added: “I don’t box for the belt. Or for more money, to win another five or twenty-five fights, or to unify the division, I just box for that (his head) boxing.
“Without it, (my head) goes downhill so quickly, I don’t know any other way to keep it sane. This is me speaking very honestly, from the heart. I don’t know how to quit.”
In the interview, Fury stated that he would like to play more matches on home soil, even facing Deon Tevelde for the fourth time.
But what Fury wants most is a fight with Ukraine’s Usyk, who defended his WBA, IBF and WBO belts against Joshua in Saudi Arabia in August.
“If the Usyk can make it and they really want to fight, then we’ll fight the next one, as long as I win and it’s all right, because I won’t look past anything and you can’t count yours before they hatch Chicken,” Fury said.
“If there’s a fight in Usyk, it’s likely to be in Saudi Arabia. Pass him and then go back to the UK.
“Deontay Wilder is now fighting me for the final knockout with Andy Ruiz Jr. It would be great to have that happen again at Wembley now, wouldn’t it? I’ve been there (to America) three times. If he wants to For the fourth fight, he has to come here.”
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