Tyson Fury set for comeback as hopes renewed for Oleksandr Usyk trilogy
Fury has been out of action since suffering a second defeat to Usyk in October last year, later announcing plans to retire in early 2025.
However, after months of speculation, it seems the Gypsy King is preparing for a comeback. Saudi boxing chief Turki Al-Sheikh confirmed Fury's return via social media, posting: "The 'Gypsy King' will be back!!! I talked with him, and I have his word to have him in Riyadh Season in 2026... We have a rabbit to hunt!"
Fury quickly shared the post on his own Instagram story, adding the caption: "Let's see what 2026 brings," accompanied by dollar signs and laughing emojis.
Rabbit is the nickname Fury has given Usyk ahead of both of their fights, with Usyk winning both encounters on the judges' scorecards. Those were the first blots on the Brit's perfect record which saw him win the WBA, WBC, IBF and WBO heavyweight titles.
That second loss saw the 36-year-old confirm another retirement from the sport - having done so on several occasions in the past.
"I'm going to make this short and sweet, I'd like to announce my retirement from boxing," he said back in January. "It's been a blast, I've loved every single minute of it and I'm going to end with this. Dick Turpin wore a mask. God bless everybody, see you on the other side."
That announcement seemed to finally end hopes of Fury coming up against Anthony Joshua in what would likely be the biggest bout in British boxing history. Joshua himself hasn't fought since being beaten by Daniel Dubois in September, who fights Usyk for the undisputed heavyweight crown on July 19.
And once his return to the sport is officially confirmed, he has been promised an immediate crack at becoming a world champion again. WBC President Mauricio Sulaiman recently stated a title shot would be waiting for him...if he comes back to the ring.
Speaking to Action Network, Sulaiman said:'If Tyson decides to come back to boxing, he always has a door open with the WBC. He will always be number one so absolutely (we will give him a world title shot if he returns) because he is top of the top.
"He carried boxing through the dark times of the pandemic and Tyson is the one who elevated the sport and he's the one who got Saudi Arabia to look into boxing."
As for a fight with AJ, Matchroom boss Eddie Hearn has attempted to quicken negotiations, revealing it's likely that 2026 will likely be Joshua's final year as a professional boxer.
Speaking last month on The Ariel Helwani show, he said: "Probably 2026 will be his last year in the sport. I mean you never know, but thinking about it, it's probably three fights away. If I'm advising AJ I'm thinking, 'We're back this year, two Tyson Fury fights, what else is there to do?'
"He maybe could fight a Daniel Dubois, but I think for me, once AJ fights a Tyson Fury, he's kind of done it all. I'd love him to have another crack at Dubois, I'd love him to have another crack at [Oleksandr] Usyk.
"If we get to 2026 and he's firing on all cylinders then 2026 won't be his last year. But for me, something feels right about beating Tyson Fury twice and then sailing off into the sunset."
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