Former world heavyweight champion Tyson Fury has once again declared his intention to return to professional boxing, less than two years after announcing his retirement from the sport.
The 37-year-old British fighter made the announcement on Sunday via his social media platforms, revealing that he plans to be back in action in 2026. In a characteristically bold message, the self-styled “Gypsy King” suggested that stepping away from the ring has not dimmed his appetite for competition or high-profile paydays.
Fury has not fought since his December 2024 defeat to Oleksandr Usyk, a bout that saw him lose three of the four major heavyweight belts. The Ukrainian remains the only boxer to have beaten Fury, having claimed victory in back-to-back encounters that Fury later described as controversial.
Despite insisting last year that he was walking away from the sport for good, Fury’s retirement was widely greeted with scepticism, given his long history of quitting and then staging comebacks. He previously announced his retirement in April 2022 after stopping Dillian Whyte, only to reverse the decision later that same year.
Over the Christmas and New Year period, Fury further stoked speculation by sharing multiple training videos online, prompting fans to anticipate yet another return. His latest announcement has now confirmed those expectations.
The Manchester-born boxer has been consistently linked with a long-rumoured all-British showdown against Anthony Joshua, another former two-time heavyweight champion. The pair were close to fighting in 2021 when they collectively held all the major titles, but the bout collapsed after Fury was ordered by an arbitration panel to face Deontay Wilder for a third time.
Plans had reportedly been in motion for Fury and Joshua to take separate tune-up fights early this year before finally meeting later in 2026. However, that schedule has been thrown into doubt following a serious road accident in Nigeria last week that left Joshua injured and claimed the lives of two members of his entourage.
Should Joshua be unavailable, Fury is expected to explore alternative high-profile options, including a potential trilogy fight with Usyk or a clash with reigning WBO champion Fabio Wardley.
Victory in either contest would see Fury emulate boxing legend Muhammad Ali by becoming a three-time world heavyweight champion, a feat that would further cement his legacy in the division.
