Fury gives up world titles to focus on personal issues

Updated Mar. 4, 2020 4:04 p.m. ET

foxsports

LONDON (AP) Tyson Fury has vacated his WBO and WBA world titles to concentrate on his treatment and recovery from drug use and other personal issues.

Fury released a statement early Thursday confirming the decision, which came after his second withdrawal from a rematch with Wladimir Klitschko after being declared ''medically unfit'' and following his admitted bingeing on cocaine and alcohol.

The British boxer said in a statement: ''I'm unable to defend at this time and I have taken the hard and emotional decision to now officially vacate my treasured world titles and wish the next in-line contenders all the very best as I now enter another big challenge in my life which I know, like against Klitschko, I will conquer.''