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Tyson Fury has announced he is returning from retirement this year.
The former heavyweight world champion, who last fought in a points defeat to Oleksandr Usyk in December 2024, was linked with a sensational clash with Anthony Joshua before his British rival was involved in a fatal car crash in Nigeria earlier this week. Joshua has since returned to the UK following the deaths of two close friends and members of his team.
Posting on Instagram, Fury said: “2026 is that year. Return of the mac. Been away for a while but I’m back now, 37 years old and still punching. Nothing better to do than punch men in the face and get paid for it.”
Fury has been training in Thailand at the Iss Boxing Gym Pattaya, with World Boxing Council (WBC) bridgerweight title holder Kevin Lerena in his camp as one of his sparring partners.
The South African has shared footage of Fury inside the ring, with the 37-year-old seen hitting pads and boxing his teammate off the back foot.
Riyadh Season boss Turki Alalshikh had planned to match both Fury and Joshua in separate fights in 2026 before finally meeting later in the year, potentially back in the UK.
Joshua’s provisional date, before his accident, was February, with Fury teasing a potential return last summer, with 18 April highlighted as a potential date.
Though Fury had intended to fight Usyk for a third time, though the Ukrainian has instead been linked with a fight in the United States in recent weeks.
Usyk’s promotional allegiance has been the source of speculation, with Deontay Wilder, a former rival of Fury’s, tipped to clash with the former undisputed heavyweight world champion and offer a platform to break new commercial ground in boxing’s biggest market.
Tyson Fury attending the Joseph Parker v Fabio Wardley fight at The O2 Arena (Steven Paston/PA Wire)
Alalshikh had hinted at Usyk facing Fury for a third time when confirming an agreement with Fury had been reached, stating: “I talked with him [Fury], and I have his word to have him in Riyadh Season in 2026. We have a rabbit to hunt.”
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Rabbit has often been used as one of Fury’s insults towards Usyk during their two-fight rivalry.
Fury had paid tribute to Joshua and his two deceased friends following the car crash in Nigeria.
“This is so sad,” wrote Fury in an Instagram story, sharing a post about Joshua’s late teammates. “May god give them a good bed in heaven.”
Fury later shared a video interview between Joshua and Boxing King Media, from earlier this year, and wrote: “thoughts & prayers with AJ and the families who have lost.”