Tyson Fury is a master of the unexpected.
Few outside of his team expected him to beat Wladimir Klitschko when he challenged the great Ukrainian for the unified WBA, IBF and WBO heavyweight titles in 2015.
He defied those doubts.
Fury wasn't expected to step away from the sport for two and a half years after that.
But he overcame his battles with depression, brought his weight down and defied expectations when he took on Deontay Wilder in a thrilling trilogy that saw him match the world's hardest puncher and then win and defend the WBC heavyweight championship.
He didn't manage to beat Oleksandr Usyk to win the undisputed world title this year, nor did he manage to gain revenge in their December rematch. He lost two decisions in highly competitive bouts with Usyk and remained, clearly, one of the top two fighters in the division.
But perhaps second best would never be enough for Fury.
He surprised again when he announced his retirement on Monday.
Fury always generates intrigue and did so again when he closed off his declaration by saying: "I'm going to end with this - Dick Turpin wore a mask!"
Dick Turpin was a notorious British highwayman in the 18th Century.
Brad Jacobs, COO at Top Rank, Fury's co-promoter, told Sky Sports: "Only Tyson knows what he meant by that. The only takeaway I have is he probably thought he was robbed in the Usyk fight."
Fury was convinced he deserved the decision in his second fight with Usyk especially.
Eddie Hearn, Anthony Joshua's promoter, wasn't sure how to interpret Fury's Dick Turpin comment but didn't think it referred to any talks for Fury vs AJ - as those negotiations had not yet even begun.
"On the one hand it could mean, I've made a fortune, see you later, I'm off," Hearn told Sky Sports.
"On the other hand it could mean you feel like someone's turned you over. There's been no negotiations from our side. The only conversation we've had with Frank Warren and [Fury's manager] Spencer Brown is when the time is right, let's have a chat. That's it.
"Everybody wants the fight, it's the biggest fight in boxing. I don't know what that [Turpin comment] refers to."
Hearn added of Fury: "He's done remarkably well. He's had a great career and if that is the end, then congratulations on a great career. Disappointing for the British public, but if it's time it's time."
It's possible a non-title bout with Joshua doesn't interest Fury at this stage of his career.
Top Rank's Jacobs said: "I think he really enjoyed being heavyweight champion, and he's not any longer.
"Maybe he doesn't see a path to become heavyweight champion again. Look, boxing's a punishing business. It's very tough, the toughest sport there is and you can never put yourself in the shoes of a boxer and try to determine how they feel or what they're thinking.
"This man has been at it for a long time, I get it. So if that's it for him, God bless him.
"He said it himself the best, which was 'I don't need any more money. I've got enough money. I've got my beautiful family.' If he's not prepared to go in there to win, stay out of it."
Joseph Parker, a former heavyweight world champion himself who knows Fury well, believes the Briton's legacy speaks for itself.
"It sounds like he's retired. And if he is, great, because he's achieved everything there is in boxing. Champion of the world twice. Not just the boxing side, coming back from what he went through depression, he's achieved everything. He's got a lovely wife and beautiful kids," Parker told Sky Sports.
"If he is truly retired, may he enjoy the rest of his life."
Perhaps Fury's next surprise will be saying he's retired and staying retired. He'll have to at some point. After all, even Fury couldn't fight on forever.
"Of course he can't. No fighter can," promoter Frank Warren told Sky Sports.
"At the end of the day you have to face reality. Not that he should retire, I'm saying financially he can, there was nothing in that fight between the two of them [Fury and Usyk].
"He was two-time world champion. He's done it twice and he done it in the other guy's backyard."
Warren hopes to see Fury remain involved in boxing in another role, perhaps even as a promoter too.
"I'd have no problem with him getting involved with us. We'd have a good run together!" Warren said. "He's got a great brain and he's very astute.
"I hope it's not [goodbye] because he's got a lot to give boxing outside the ring."
Another comeback?
Eddie Hearn however does think that the prospect of boxing Anthony Joshua might yet draw Tyson Fury back at some point.
"I'm optimistic. It's difficult because I don't know him, but I'd find it very difficult to believe that he'd leave this fight on the table," Hearn said.
The last time Fury retired, in 2022, it was a matter of months before he came back.
"We've been here before, haven't we?" Hearn continued. "But he is coming off two defeats this time. So I don't know him well enough to judge. If it is the end, congratulations, good luck.
"You don't want to be fighting the likes of Anthony Joshua, you don't want to be in big heavyweight fights if your heart's not in it anymore.
"If he's done, he's done. And if he is, good luck to him."
