Former two division champion Ricky Hatton believes Tyson Fury will not retire until he scores a knockout victory over Anthony Joshua.

Earlier this month, Fury retained the WBC heavyweight title with an eleven round knockout of Deontay Wilder in their trilogy clash at the T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas. In one of the better heavyweight fights in years, Fury had to recover from two knockdowns to eventually put away Wilder.

For his part, last month Joshua was outboxed over twelve rounds by Oleksandr Usyk, who picked up the WBO, IBF, IBO, WBA world titles.

Joshua has since exercised an immediate rematch clause and faces Usyk in a second fight in the first quarter of 2022.

Hatton would not be surprised if Fury hangs back until the outcome of the Usyk-Joshua.

However, Fury may be forced to return sooner than later if the WBC orders him to make a mandatory defense.

"If Tyson Fury wants a break after that war with Deontay Wilder, none of us can blame him. We might not see him until after Oleksandr Usyk vs Anthony Joshua 2," Hatton told Metro.co.uk.

"If Tyson wants a rest, that will give AJ a chance to try redeem himself against Usyk. And if he can do that, we get the fight we have all wanted. There is only one box for him to tick now I think and that is the all-British title showdown with AJ. If that doesn’t happen, then I don’t think there is much more he can do in his career.

"He’s had three thrilling fights with Wilder. If he wanted to hang them up now, I don’t think anyone would blame him. But knowing Tyson how I know him, he will want to sign off his career by beating AJ."