Tyson Fury has announced his intention to return to professional boxing – a year after he stepped away from the sport for the fifth time.
The former heavyweight champion hung up the gloves in January last year, a month on from suffering his second successive points loss to Oleksandr Usyk.
‘The Gypsy King’ has a questionable track record when it comes to sticking to his word, though, and began to tease a return over the festive period with as series of videos of him training.
And Fury has now confirmed that he will make a return to the ring this year.
Speaking on Instagram, the 37-year-old said: ‘2026 is that year Return of the mac.
‘Been away for a while but im back now, 37 years old and still punching. nothing better to do than punch men in the face & get paid for it’.
Fury has a 34-2-1 record and is a two-time heavyweight champion after his victories against Wladimir Klitschko in 2015 and Deontay Wilder in 2020.
In 2024, Fury challenged the unbeaten Usyk to become the first undisputed heavyweight champion since Lennox Lewis, but came up short after a thrilling contest in Saudi Arabia.
The Brit attempted to avenge his defeat seven months later in Riyadh, but suffered a more convincing unanimous decision defeat against the Ukrainian.
Fury then stepped away from the sport for 12 months, but now appears set on a return to the ring to try and become a three-time heavyweight champion.
Tyson Fury's many failed retirements
November 2013 – Fury announced his first retirement after a fight with David Haye was cancelled for the second time. He returned threee months later to face American Joey Abell.
October 2016 – After withdrawing from a heavyweight title rematch with Wladimir Klitschko for the second time to address his mental health, Fury posted on social media that he was retired. He backtracked on the retirement hours later on social media, stating: ‘You think you will get rid of the Gypsy King that easy!!! I’m here to stay.’
August 2017 – Fury still hadn’t fought since beating Klitschko in 2015, but again announces his decision to retire from the sport. Less than a year later he returned to fight Sefer Sefero when his boxing license was reinstated following a dispute with UK Anti-Doping.
April 2022 – After beating Dillian Whyte, Fury again hung up the gloves but U-turned only months later when his third fight with Derek Chisora was confimed for December that year.
January 2025 – Following a second defeat to Oleksandr Usyk, Fury said he was retiring again, but rowed that back with a statement on social media announcing his return in January 2026.
Despite losing twice to Usyk, a third bout against the unified heavyweight champion would still garner plenty of interest.
Usyk has not fought since his knockout victory over Daniel Dubois in July last year, and has stated his desire to face Fury’s former opponent, the aforementioned Wilder, next.
A long-awaited all-British dust-up with Anthony Joshua had also been targeted for 2026, although that has now been plunged into uncertainty after ‘AJ’ was involved in a horrific car crash, which killed two of his closest friends.
After a stay in hospital, Joshua has now returned to the UK from Nigeria and offered his first social media update following the deaths of Sina Ghani and Latif Ayodele, who were also key members of his team.
Speaking last week, Fury’s promoter, Frank Warren, wondered whether Joshua would have ‘the appetite’ to fight again.
‘This is an awful time for everyone involved and hopefully AJ has come out of physically well but mentally is another issue,’ Warren told ITV News.
‘I don’t even know if he will ever have the appetite to fight again or if he will ever fight again, that is something that only time will tell.’
Fury also sent his support to Joshua after the crash and the loss of his friends, posting on social media:‘This is so sad. May god give them a good bed in heaven.
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