Following his loss to Oleksandr Usyk, 38, for the second time in December, The Gypsy King, 36, said he’d be taking off the gloves for good, though WBC President Mauricio Sulaiman has now said the door is always open for Fury if he decides to return.

He told Action Network: “If Tyson decides to come back to boxing, he always has a door open with the WBC. He will always be number one, so absolutely - we will give him a world title shot if he returns - because he is top of the top.

“He carried boxing through the dark times of the pandemic and Tyson is the one who elevated the sport and he’s the one who got Saudi Arabia to look into boxing.”

Sulaiman added Fury’s manager Spencer Brown was a “tremendous influence”, and said it would be a “win-win for everyone” if The Gypsy King decided to get back in the ring.

The WBC head said: “Spencer Brown is a tremendous influence, a great manager and now he’s managing and promoting fighters.

“It’s a great team so it’s a win-win - for everyone - and my love and my gold heart goes to Tyson Fury and his team.”

Many fans have called for Fury to go to battle with Anthony Joshua, 34, though AJ’s promoter Eddie Hearn has recently hinted the fighter may also be moving into the final stage of his boxing career.

Hearn said: “Something feels right about coming back this year, beating Tyson Fury twice and then sailing off into the sunset.”

A Joshua comeback fight is being planned for between October and December, but his next opponent remains unconfirmed.

Dillian Whyte, 37, had been the preferred choice, but is now reportedly finalising a deal to get in the ring with rising British heavyweight Moses Itauma, 20, on 16 August in Saudi Arabia.