Some boxing fans and pundits suggested Fury might retire after the postponementCredit: JAMIE MCPHILIMEY

Fury hit back at retirement suggestions and sent a chilling warning to Usyk on InstagramCredit: INSTAGRAM@TYSONFURY

The latest delay to the fight led many boxing fans and even Usyk’s team to suggest Fury might retire without ever fighting the slick southpaw.

And Fury couldn’t help but laugh at those claims after it was revealed they’ll throw down on May 18.

Taking to Instagra, he said: “We keep moving forward and now we have a new date.

“Usyk’s crying his eyes out. ‘Tyson should retire, Tyson wants to retire.’

“No retirement here, motherf****r. You’re getting knocked out. Knocked spark out!

“May 18, the new date. Live and exclusive from Saudi Arabia, Riyadh season.”

Saudi boxing kingpin Turki Alalshikh has included a forfeit in the agreement for the May melee that will have both men on the hook for £10million if they pull out of the Riyadh rumble.

During an appearance on The MMA Hour, he said: “I have delayed it for May 18, I guarantee for both of the fighters £10million if someone escapes from the fight.

“We will make the people around the world know if someone is scared.”

Should unified heavyweight king Usyk pull out of the fight, Alalshikh plans to make the long-awaited Battle of Britain between Fury and Anthony Joshua.

He said: “I guarantee there will be another big fight on the same night [if it is cancelled].

“If Usyk is scared then I will call for Joshua vs Fury and if Fury is scared I will call for any fighter that Usyk wants.

“This is the fight of the century.”

Fury was full of praise for Al-Alshikh for finalising a new date for his long-overdue clash with Usyk so quickly.

He said: “We got a new fight date. Very, very quickly – I suppose that was upsetting to a lot of people, but refreshing to a lot of good people.

“Massive shoutout to Turki Alalshikh, they made the new date possible so quickly.”

He also showed off his since stitched-up war wound, saying: “In life, sometimes s***y things happen to you but you never let it get to you.

“You always keep moving forward. Look at that b*****d right there. Woah.

“Nice little elbow right in the eye. Nearly cost me the biggest fight in my career. But what can you do, s**t happens.”

Fury, 35, was in tip-top shape for the bout and was furious at suggestions he deliberately got himself injured.

He said: “This is not a blessing in disguise, but I take God’s will as it comes.

“I was 100 per cent confident I was going to knock Usyk out. I was 100 per cent ready.

“Why would I not want to fight for the biggest payday of my life?”