Former world heavyweight champion Tyson Fury announced on Sunday his return to boxing in 2026.
Fury has not fought since losing to Oleksandr Usyk in a fight for three of four major world titles in December 2024.
But the 37-year-old British star posted on Instagram on Sunday: “2026 is that year. The return of the pimp.”
“I’ve been away for a while but I’m back now, I’m 37 and I’m still hitting.
There’s nothing better to do than punch men in the face and get paid for it. Fury also said he was retiring from the sport after beating Dillian Whyte in April 2022, returning later in the year.
Fury’s history of retirement followed by U-turns meant few believed his most recent claim to end a career that had brought 34 wins in 37 matches.
He was furious with judges’ decisions in two losses to Usyk, the only boxer to beat Fury, who said in last year’s retirement message: “I’ll end with this: Dick Turpin wore a mask.”
The self-proclaimed ‘Gypsy King’ fueled speculation of another comeback over the festive period by posting several clips on his social media showing him working out.
Despite insisting he has retired from the sport, Fury has repeatedly been linked with a highly anticipated all-British fight against Anthony Joshua, another former two-time heavyweight world champion.
The two men agreed to a fight in August 2021 when they held every major world title between them, but that was sabotaged when Fury was ordered to face Deontay Wilder for a third time at an arbitration hearing.
Joshua and Fury were expected to have warm-up fights early this year before finally facing each other, either in late summer or towards the end of 2026.
However, Monday’s car crash in Nigeria, which injured Joshua and led to the deaths of two close friends and team members, likely put boxing on the back burner for the 36-year-old.
If Joshua is unavailable, Fury could seek a trilogy fight against WBC, WBA and IBF titleholder Usyk, or a contest with WBO champion Fabio Wardley.
A victory over either would see Fury join Muhammad Ali as a three-time heavyweight champion of the world.
