Former Champion Tyson Fury Announces Boxing Comeback Set for 2026

Former world heavyweight champion Tyson Fury declared on Sunday that he will return to professional boxing in 2026, reversing his latest retirement announcement.

The 37-year-old British boxer has been absent from the ring since his December 2024 defeat to Oleksandr Usyk in a unification bout for three major world titles. In a social media post, Fury stated, “2026 is that year. Return of the Mac. Been away for a while but I’m back now, 37 years old and still punching.”

This pattern of retirement announcements followed by reversals is familiar for Fury. He previously retired after a win in April 2022, only to resume fighting months later. Following his two contentious decision losses to Usyk—the only fighter to defeat him—Fury had hinted at retirement with a cryptic message criticizing the judges’ decisions.

Speculation about another comeback had grown in recent weeks after Fury posted training clips online during the holiday period.

Despite his intermittent retirements, Fury has long been linked to a potential high-profile all-British clash with fellow former two-time champion Anthony Joshua. While plans were reportedly being developed for a potential late-2026 bout, those prospects are now uncertain following a serious car crash in Nigeria on Monday that injured Joshua and resulted in fatalities among his team.

If a Joshua fight is not feasible, Fury could pursue a third fight against current unified champion Oleksandr Usyk or a match with WBO titleholder Fabio Wardley. A victory in either scenario would allow Fury to join boxing legend Muhammad Ali as a three-time world heavyweight champion.