The “Gypsy King” Tyson Fury has long accustomed us to bizarre statements. The former heavyweight world champion has always been a rather unconventional character, and even now that his sporting career is drawing toward its end, his outbursts continue to spark debate and raise smiles among fans and insiders alike. Particularly unusual in recent days were Fury’s remarks about the reasons behind his return to the ring—linked to ChatGPT—and his intention to train on his own for his next fight.
Asked what prompted him to interrupt his retirement during the press conference announcing his upcoming bout against Russian giant Arslanbek Makhmudov, the Gypsy King brought artificial intelligence—and even Donald Trump—into the conversation. Here is what he said:
“I came back for one reason only, and that’s to make boxing great again. Since I retired for a fifth time over a year ago, boxing, to me, has gone on a downward slope. It’s become quite boring. Boxing is at its maximum potential when Tyson Fury’s actively fighting. I didn’t say that; the cleverest AI said that — ChatGPT. So believe that.
“I came back to make boxing great again. Like Donald Trump wants to make America great again, I want to make boxing great again.”
These were not the only remarks from the former champion that generated curiosity and surprise among those in attendance. Fury also stated that he does not need a head coach to prepare for his return to the ring:
“I will train alone. What I don’t know about my body at my age, I’ll never know.”
Fury and Makhmudov will clash on April 11 at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium. For the British fighter, it will be his first bout since his points defeat to Oleksandr Usyk in their December 2024 rematch in Riyadh. Makhmudov, meanwhile, is coming off a clear points victory over David Allen last October.