Tyson Fury vacates world heavyweight boxing titles

In this Nov. 29, 2015 file photo, Britain’s new world champion Tyson Fury, celebrates with the WBA, IBF, WBO and IBO belts after winning the world heavyweight title fight against Ukraine’s Wladimir Klitschko in Duesseldorf, western Germany. Fury has vacated his WBO and WBA world titles to concentrate on his treatment and recovery from drug use and other personal issues. Fury’s promotors released a statement early Thursday, Oct. 13, 2016, confirming the decision. It comes in the wake of his second withdrawal from a rematch with Wladimir Klitschko after being declared “medically unfit” and following his admitted bingeing on cocaine and alcohol. AP FILE PHOTO

LONDON—Tyson Fury has given up his WBO and WBA world heavyweight titles “with immediate effect” to concentrate on his “medical treatment and recovery”, said a statement released by his promoters Hennessy Sports.

The British boxer has admitted taking cocaine to deal with depression and was set to be stripped of his titles after cancelling two planned rematches this year against Ukrainian former champion Wladimir Klitschko.

READ: Tyson Fury ‘medically unfit’ to defend title vs Klitschko

“I feel that it is only fair and right and for the good of boxing to keep the titles active and allow the other contenders to fight for the vacant belts that I proudly won and held as the undefeated heavyweight champion of the world when I defeated the long-standing champion Wladimir Klitschko,” Fury said in the statement released late Wednesday.

BACKSTORY: Tyson Fury ends Wladimir Klitschko’s heavyweight reign

“I won the titles in the ring and I believe that they should be lost in the ring, but I’m unable to defend at this time.”

Mick Hennessy, Fury’s promoter, said the decision was “heartbreaking”.

Peter Fury, Tyson’s uncle and trainer, said: “Tyson will be back stronger from this and I will make sure, no matter what we have to deal with, Tyson not only comes back but will reclaim what’s rightfully his.

“I’m very proud of my nephew’s achievements.”

Fury had already withdrawn from a rematch with Klitschko on October 29 because of mental health issues. He also cancelled their first planned rematch in July citing an ankle injury.

The outspoken boxer admitted in an interview with Rolling Stone magazine this month that he was suffering from depression and taking cocaine.

The British Boxing Board of Control (BBBC) met on Wednesday to discuss whether to remove Fury’s boxing licence following the admission of drug taking.

They had been due to release their decision on Thursday.

Cocaine admission

Controversial Fury, 28, announced earlier this month he was retiring only to make a U-turn just hours later following media reports he had failed a drug test for cocaine.

Fury then confirmed for the first time that he had taken the class A drug as a way of self-medicating for severe depression.

“Listen, I’ve done a lot of things in my life. I’ve done lots of cocaine. Lots of it,” Fury told Rolling Stone magazine in a series of startling admissions.

Explaining why his rematch with Klitschko had been called off for a second time, Fury said: “I’ve not been training. I’ve been going through depression.

“I just don’t want to live any more, if you know what I’m saying. I’ve had total enough of it. So cocaine is a little minor thing compared to not wanting to live any more.”

He added: “I don’t know if I’m going to see the year out, to be honest… They say I’ve got a version of bipolar. I’m a manic depressive. I just hope someone kills me before I kill myself.”

Fury has courted controversy since sensationally defeating Klitschko last year to become world champion, making a series of comments about homosexuality and Jews and extolling the virtues of his extreme religious views.

Asked how they would treat Fury, BBBC general secretary Robert Smith told Britain’s Press Association: “Cocaine is against the law of the land. We can’t ignore the law of the land. It’s drug use and we will deal with it accordingly.”

Fury, the self-styled “Gypsy King”, also won the IBF belt in beating the more fancied Klitschko, but had to forfeit it after failing to fulfil a mandatory bout against Vyacheslav Glazkov./rga