Nobody had to tell Tyson Fury how badly he looked against Francis Ngannou on Oct. 28. The former UFC heavyweight champion was making his professional boxing debut, and Fury, then the WBC champion, willingly gave him a shot. It was, Fury was certain, money for nothing. There was no way, he clearly believed, that Ngannou could beat him, that anything bad could happen.
And so Fury went through the motions in training camp, didn't push like an undefeated world champion usually pushes, was knocked down and nearly lost his title in what unquestionably would have been the greatest upset in boxing history.
If Fury's intent was to redeem himself Saturday against Oleksandr Usyk when they fought for the undisputed heavyweight title at Kingdom Arena in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, he did that easily. He performed exceptionally well and was part of one of the best heavyweight fights of the century.
That he came up just short and dropped a split decision to Usyk shouldn't obscure the fact that he fought hard, he fought smart and he fought well.
There was no singing and dancing from Fury at Saturday's news conference after Usyk defeated him by scores of 115-112, 114-113 and 113-114 like we've seen so often after Fury's fights over the years. He was classy and composed, and walked back comments he made in the ring in the immediate aftermath of the fight when he suggested people thought Usyk won because his country, Ukraine, is at war.
Fury said he thought he'd won, but he also noted that he can't judge when he's fighting, and he and promoter Frank Warren accepted the result with equanimity.
In the ring, he said he wanted the rematch in October. At the news conference, as so often happens, he walked that back. Fury was in camp for Usyk for seven months. He's nearly 36 years old and he has seven children with an eighth on the way.
He's rich beyond all measure and though purses weren't disclosed on Saturday, you can be sure he brought home around $75 million or more for the night's work.
He won't have to work another day in his life. He clearly had a great time on Saturday, except for the point when Usyk dropped him and nearly finished him in the ninth. He was saved by the bell and by referee Mark Nelson's decision -- correctly, I believe -- to give him every chance to recover.
Fury's loved what he's done so much for so long that in one sense, it's hard to imagine him walking away. But on the other hand, he's set for life financially and he doesn't need to put himself not only the rigors of camp and the fights but also the mental stress that comes along with it.
Fury's famously battled mental health problems, and ballooned to 400 pounds in the 18 months after his title-winning effort over Wladimir Klitschko in 2015.
It would be disappointing from a selfish standpoint if he retired because Saturday's fight was so entertaining and so closely and expertly contested. From his standpoint, though, it wouldn't be a bad time to say farewell.
He's got more money than he'll ever need, his faculties are intact and he can't do anything more to enhance his status as one of the greats of his era. That's already been cemented.
"I haven't gotten the decision," Fury said. "I'm not going to cry about it. I'll regroup. I'll live another day. I'll go have pizza with the wife and kids and see what I want to do. I ain't boxing because I ain't got no money. I'm boxing because I love it. Do you understand? I'm 36 in a few months and I've been boxing since I've been a child, so it is what it is. Where does it all end, when you have a hundred fights and brain damage in a wheelchair? I'm not sure.
"But the one thing is, all the time I'm still loving the game. I was having fun in there. I was really enjoying myself, and that's why I continue to do it. But when I can't do that any more, I'll pack it up. Simple as that."
He's given much to the sport and brought it plenty of new fans. His third fight with Wilder might have been the best of the 21st century until his battle with Usyk Saturday. His 'Undertaker' move in getting up after being viciously dropped by Wilder in the 12th round of their first bout will live on in the minds of those who were there to see it forever.
The sport is unquestionably better because of the presence of Tyson Luke Fury these last 15+ years.
He's earned the right to go out on his terms. If he wants the rematch, there will be a huge market for it. But if he's had enough of the head shots, of the pounding of his knees from the road work, of the questions from the media, of the traveling to camp and being away from his family, it's easily understood. If that's how he feels, he should walk away and start the clock ticking for his induction into the International Boxing Hall of Fame.
There's no wrong decision.
It's up to Fury and his wife, Paris, and whatever they feel is best.
Boxing will survive if he's gone, because it always does.
Just remember to thank him if, in fact, this was it. Because if this is his goodbye, he's left a slew of incredible memories for boxing fans to chew over.