Tyson Fury’s recent retirement – like his other retirements – didn’t last long.
The former two-time heavyweight champion confirmed on Sunday that he will return to the ring in 2026.
Fury announced the news on social media:
“2026 is Mac’s year to come back. Been away for a while, but I’m back now, 37 years old, still boxing. There’s nothing better than punching a man in the face and getting paid for it.”
In recent days, Fury has posted training clips of him sparring with South African Kevin Lerena. Lereina, a southpaw lightweight turned heavyweight contender, was one of Fury’s training partners when he fought unified heavyweight champion Oleksandr Usyk due to their similar build.
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Fury’s training with Lereina has fueled speculation that “The Gypsy King” could be in line for a trilogy fight with Usyk, a fight he’s always wanted. In his January 2025 retirement video, the Briton mentioned his belief that he was unlucky to lose two of his two fights with Usyk in 2024, the first of which was for boxing’s undisputed heavyweight championship.
Fury has not fought since a second loss to Usyk in December 2024, and the Ukrainian champion has been linked with a fight against Deontay Wilder later this year.
Turki Alalshikh’s Ring magazine reported last month that the long-awaited showdown between Fury and Anthony Joshua would take place later in 2026, but with two members of Joshua’s training squad, Sina Ghami and Latif Ayodele, It is unclear what the status of the planned fight will be after the pair were killed in a car crash in Nigeria last Monday, with Joshua also suffering minor injuries.