- Tyson Fury announces boxing comeback.
- “Gypsy King” targets 2026 return.
- Mega-fight with Joshua faces delay.
Former world heavyweight champion Tyson Fury has ended months of speculation, officially declaring his intention to return to professional boxing in 2026. The 37-year-old British star, known as the “Gypsy King,” made the announcement via a social media post on Sunday, stating simply: “2026 is that year. Return of the mac.”
Fury has been absent from the ring since his decisive defeat against unified champion Oleksandr Usyk in December 2024, a loss that cost him three of the four major world titles. Despite this recent setback, Fury’s comeback history suggests this announcement is credible. He previously announced his retirement after defeating Dillian Whyte in April 2022, only to reverse that decision later the same year. His career record stands impressively at 34 wins across 37 contests.
In his latest post, the champion sounded defiant and ready to resume his career, noting he is “37 years old and still punching. Nothing better to do than punch men in the face and get paid for it.” Following his loss to Usyk, Fury had expressed deep frustration over the judges’ scorecards, leading many to anticipate another eventual return.
The immediate future of his comeback is heavily dependent on the availability of his potential opponents. The long-awaited all-British showdown against Anthony Joshua was tentatively scheduled for late summer or the back end of 2026. However, those plans are now reportedly in jeopardy following a tragic car crash in Nigeria this week which left Joshua injured and resulted in the deaths of two close team members. This incident has cast a large shadow over Joshua’s immediate boxing future, forcing him to understandably put the sport on the back burner.
Should the bout against Joshua be delayed, Fury has two major alternative options. He could pursue a trilogy fight against Usyk, who currently holds the WBC, WBA, and IBF titles, or challenge WBO champion Fabio Wardley. A victory in either of these title contests would be historically significant, allowing Fury to join the ranks of legends like Muhammad Ali as a three-time world heavyweight champion.