Lancashire boxer Tyson Fury announces his return to boxing yet again

Morecambe based Tyson Fury stepped away from the sport in January last year after a second points loss heavyweight rival Oleksandr Usyk in December 2024.

That bout was for three of the four major world titles, and after his defeat, Tyson announced his second retirement - his first was in April 2022 after beating Dillian Whyte, but he returned later that year.

It looks like the father of seven is set to go back on his word yet again as he took to social media to share his plans of returning.

He posted on Instagram today: “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.”

Further confirming his intent to return, since he posted on Instagram on Sunday, Tyson has been continually resharing media stories all about his announcement.

Yesterday he also shared a photo of himself after a boxing victory with the caption: “Dreamed as a kid & achieved as a man,dedication & sacrifice is what it takes to become the best version of you. Let 2026 be your year to achieve your dreams.”

Tyson’s history of retirement followed by U-turn meant few believed his most recent claim to end a career that had brought 34 wins in 37 contests and a couple of stints as a world champion.

He was incensed at the judges’ decisions in his twin defeats by Usyk, the only boxer to beat Fury, who said in last year’s retirement message: “I’m going to end with this: Dick Turpin wore a mask.”

Before his announcement over the weekend, the self-styled Gypsy King had already fuelled speculation of another comeback over the festive period by posting several clips on his social media feeds of himself in training.

Despite insisting he had bowed out of the sport, Tyson has been repeatedly linked with a long-awaited all-British bout against Anthony Joshua, another former two-time world heavyweight champion.

The pair agreed to a fight in August 2021 when they held all the major world titles between them, but that was scuppered when Tyson was ordered to take on Deontay Wilder for a third time by an arbitration hearing.

Plans were in the pipeline for Joshua and Fury to have tune-ups in the early part of this year before finally facing off against each other, either in late summer or towards the back end of 2026.

However, the car crash in Nigeria on Monday which left Joshua injured and led to the deaths of two close friends and team members has likely put boxing on the back burner for the 36-year-old.

Speaking to Betway, Bolton boxer Amir Khan was asked if he thinks a Fury v Joshua fight is finally going to happen now that both boxers are returning to the sport this year.

Amir answered: “That would be a fantastic fight. Two British heavyweights, even though they don’t have a title, I think it is a fight that the fans want to see. It would be the dream. Styles make fights. A boxer vs a puncher — the contrast draws attention, and it would be a fantastic fight.

“Anthony Joshua has the six-pack, the big arms, and everything, whereas you look at Tyson Fury and you would think it is a mismatch for Joshua, but that would be an incredible fight and a 50/50 fight.

“Tyson Fury’s a beast; he is unpredictable, and you never underestimate him. One thing about Tyson Fury is that he can pull it out of the bag. When he needs to perform and put on a good show, he always does it. That is why people love to watch him, and that is why he puts bums on seats.

“That’s why he has been paid so well from the Riyadh Season by Turki Alalshikh and Saudi Arabia because he takes risky fights and has done so well. Tyson thrives under pressure, puts on a show. That’s why people watch him.”

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On who he thinks would win, Amir said: “With Tyson Fury being out of the ring for such a long time, I’d lean toward Joshua slightly because he’s more active. But it is a 50/50 fight, and you would favour more towards Joshua because he has been more of the active fighter, but like I said, it is a close call.”

If Joshua is unavailable, Tyson could seek a trilogy fight against WBC, WBA and IBF titlist Usyk or a contest with WBO champion Fabio Wardley.

A win over either would see Tyson join Muhammad Ali as a three-time world heavyweight champion.