Tyson Fury Will Return To Boxing In 2026, Marking An End To Retirement

Tyson Fury confirms plans to fight again in 2026, reversing the retirement announced after losing to Oleksandr Usyk in 2024. The former world heavyweight champion has not boxed since the second defeat

to Usyk in December 2024, and the announcement immediately renews debate over the heavyweight division’s future match-ups.

The decision continues a familiar pattern in Tyson Fury’s career, where retirement statements often precede later comebacks. After stopping Dillian Whyte in April 2022, Fury declared that bout would be the last. However, Fury then returned to competition six months later, underlining how retirement has rarely been permanent.

Fury’s comeback talk follows a difficult 2024, when Oleksandr Usyk beat Fury twice, first in May and again in December. Those defeats ended Fury’s second spell as world champion. Fury, now 37, holds a professional record of 34 wins, two defeats, and one draw across heavyweight contests.

A long-discussed domestic fight between Fury and Anthony Joshua had appeared closer in recent months. Joshua called out Fury after beating Jake Paul late last year, increasing hopes of an all-British showdown. Doubt now surrounds that plan, as Joshua was involved in a car crash in Nigeria, in which two of Joshua’s close friends died.

Fury chose Instagram to confirm the 2026 target, using a direct message to followers. Fury posted: "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 & get paid for it. "

Details of the Tyson Fury return, including dates, venues, and potential opponents, have not yet been confirmed. Fury’s statement fixes 2026 as the comeback year, but Joshua’s situation and the wider heavyweight schedule mean negotiations still face several hurdles before any major fight can be officially arranged.