Tyson Fury

Englishman Fury posted a message on social media on Wednesday (Thursday NZ time) which indicated he had fought for the last time. 

"Been very blessed in my life & career achieve the upmost in boxing, was an epic journey along the way. Thanks to all the fans that supported & believed in me along the way. Hope you enjoy it as much as I did. THE END," Fury said on Instagram.

Fury defeated former heavyweight king Wladimir Klitschko in November, 2015 and claimed the WBA, WBO and IBF titles in the process.

Joseph Parker may be fighting Tyson Fury's younger cousin but that has not stopped the former world heavyweight champion from taking aim at the Kiwi's UK-based critics.

Parker takes his first step towards cracking the lucrative British market when he puts his WBO heavyweight title on the line against Hughie Fury in Manchester on September 23. And it appears he has some convincing to do judging by the luke-warm reception he's received by some pundits in England.

The younger cousin of former Unified World Heavyweight Champion Tyson Fury was due to challenge WBO Heavyweight Champion Joseph Parker for his belt last month in New Zealand but was forced to postpone when he injured his back.

"I can't wait to get back under the lights and do what I do best," said Fury.

"I was disappointed to miss out my shot against Parker but this is boxing and injuries happen all of the time. I will get my shot at the WBO Heavyweight belt later this year and follow in the footsteps of Tyson."

Joshua extended his professional record to 19-0 with an epic knockout of Wladimir Klitschko at the end of last month, calling out Fury in the ring in the immediate aftermath.

Fury (25-0) has not fought since defeating Klitschko in Dusseldorf in November 2015 and is currently without a licence, while he has struggled with mental health problems and faces a UK Anti-Doping hearing on Monday over claims he tested positive for a banned substance in February 2015.

Fury was charged with a doping offence by UKAD in June 2016. In August 2016, Fury's legal team said they would sue UKAD over the allegations, because tests taken in March and May 2015 showed contradictory results.

The 28-year-old Fury vacated his titles and his boxing license was suspended in October 2016 pending investigation after he admitted to consuming cocaine and dealing with mental health issues.

But on Monday before a meeting with UKAD he told The Daily Telegraph a different story, saying: "I've never taken a drug in my life."

Joshua beat Wladimir Klitschko in the 11th round at a sold out Wembley Stadium at the weekend to win three of the four heavyweight titles that belonged to Fury, who relinquished all of his titles in 2015 after his license was suspended pending investigation for doping and medical issues.

The heavyweight rivals have been talking about a match-up since last week when they exchanged barbs on Twitter and Fury challenged Joshua after his victory at Wembley, saying he "can beat AJ with one arm tied behind my back".

Fury stunned the boxing world when he defeated Wladimir Klitschko to claim the WBA (Super), IBF, WBO, and IBO crowns in November 2015.

He was stripped of the IBF title for failing to grant a fight against mandatory challenger Vyacheslav Glazkov and then twice withdrew from a rematch with Klitschko, before failing a drugs test and voluntarily vacating his WBA, WBO, and IBO belts.

On Monday Fury, whose licence was suspended in October 2016, claimed he plans to return to the ring in just over two months. 

"Breaking news. Return of the MAC. May 13th, working on an opponent, more news to follow," he tweeted on Monday.

The 28-year-old has not fought since beating Ukrainian Wladimir Klitschko to become world champion in November 2015, subsequently pulling out of a rematch twice.

He vacated his WBO and WBA belts last year, revealing he was seeking medical help, after telling Rolling Stone magazine that he had taken cocaine to help his depression.

Fury's licence was "suspended pending further investigation" by the British Boxing Board of Control.

RNZ reports Fury has twice pulled out of his rematch with former champion Wladimir Klitschko in the past 11 months, and recently admitted taking cocaine to deal with depression.

New Zealand heavyweight boxer Joseph Parker is the number one contender in the WBO and is expected to fight Mexican Andy Ruiz for the title in New Zealand in the next few months.

IBF champion Anthony Joshua is expected to fight Klitschko for the WBA title in December.

The World Boxing Organisation issued the deadline this morning in a notice to Fury ordering him to demonstrate why his title "should not be vacated due to inactivity, breach of contract and performance enhancing drugs and stimulants."

RNZ reports Fury dethroned Wladimir Klitschko as IBF, WBA and WBO world champion by beating the Ukrainian on points last November in Germany, but has since cancelled the rematch twice for medical reasons.

Fury also faces a hearing into a charge for an alleged doping violation.