Tyson Fury has announced, once more, that retirement is over.
The former two-time heavyweight world champion confirmed he will return to professional boxing in 2026, bringing an end to his latest spell away from the ring and reigniting debate about what still drives one of the sport’s most unpredictable figures.
The 37-year-old Briton last fought in December 2024, when he suffered a second consecutive defeat to Oleksandr Usyk in their heavyweight rematch. A month later, Fury declared he was done with boxing, a familiar refrain in a career defined by dramatic exits and equally dramatic returns.
This time, however, Fury insists he is back for good — or at least for now. Posting on Instagram, alongside footage of him training in Thailand, he wrote: “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 and get paid for it.”
Few in boxing were truly surprised. Fury’s most recent retirement was greeted with scepticism, given his long history of reversals.
After stopping Dillian Whyte at Wembley Stadium in April 2022, he announced his intention to walk away, only to return six months later. For many, Fury’s relationship with retirement has become almost as famous as his fights.
Promoter Frank Warren admitted he always expected Fury to fight again, while influential Saudi boxing powerbroker Turki Alalshikh has reportedly been planning a blockbuster 2026 schedule. That included separate bouts for Fury and long-time rival Anthony Joshua in Saudi Arabia, followed by a long-awaited clash between the two British heavyweights later in the year.
That dream scenario has since been complicated. Joshua was recently injured in a car crash in Nigeria that tragically killed two close members of his team, throwing any immediate plans into doubt. Even so, the possibility of Fury versus Joshua remains one of the most lucrative match-ups boxing has to offer, and Fury’s return ensures it remains alive.
Fury’s career achievements are already secure. He boasts a professional record of 34 wins, two defeats and one draw from 37 fights, with his only losses coming against Usyk. He first shocked the boxing world in 2015 by defeating long-reigning champion Wladimir Klitschko in Germany to claim the WBA (Super), IBF, WBO and Ring Magazine titles.
