Tag: Tyson Fury

Former heavyweight world champion Tyson Fury will face Arslanbek Makhmudov in his comeback fight in April, weeks after saying he would come out of retirement.

The bout between the Briton and Canada-based Russian Makhmudov will take place in the UK on April 11, with no venue yet announced, and will be broadcast on Netflix.

Fury quit boxing in January last year after suffering a second straight defeat to Oleksandr Usyk – the latest in a string of retirements.

The 37-year-old “Gypsy King” said earlier this month he would return to the sport in 2026 and has been training in Thailand.

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 “Well it’s official, I’m back doing what I love to do,” Fury posted on Instagram. “I’ve brought the biggest network along with me @netflix @netflixuk this is going to be astronomical. Blessed by God.”

Fury has a record of 34 wins, two defeats and one draw.

 “I am thrilled about the opportunity,” said 36-year-old Makhmudov, who has won 21 of his 23 fights. “I’m coming to deliver a war.

 “Tyson Fury has been a big champion. I will be more ready than ever to leave with a massive W.”

Fury had been expected to build towards a long-awaited fight against fellow British former heavyweight champion Anthony Joshua, but Joshua’s future is uncertain after a car crash in December, in Nigeria, in which two of his close friends were killed.

Former world heavyweight champion Tyson Fury  has announced he will return to boxing in 2026.

Fury has not fought since losing to Oleksandr Usyk in a bout for three of the four major world titles in December 2024.

But the 37-year-old British star posted on Instagram on Sunday: “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.”

Fury also said he was retiring from the sport after beating Dillian Whyte in April 2022, only to return 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 contests.

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He was incensed at the judges’ decisions in a pair of defeats by Usyk, the only boxer to beat Fury, who said in last year’s retirement message: “I’m going to end with this: Dick Turpin wore a mask.”

The self-styled “Gypsy King” fuelled speculation of another comeback over the festive period by posting several clips on his social media feeds of himself in training.

Despite insisting he had bowed out of the sport, Fury has been repeatedly linked with a long-awaited all-British bout against Anthony Joshua, another former two-time world heavyweight champion.

The pair agreed to a fight in August 2021 when they held all the major world titles between them, but that was scuppered when Fury was ordered to take on Deontay Wilder for a third time by an arbitration hearing.

Plans were in the pipeline for Joshua and Fury to have tune-ups in the early part of this year before finally facing off against each other, either in late summer or towards the back end of 2026.

However, the car crash in Nigeria  last Monday which left Joshua injured and led to the deaths of two close friends and team members has 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 titlist Usyk or a contest with WBO champion Fabio Wardley.

A win over either would see Fury join Muhammad Ali as a three-time world heavyweight champion.

Tyson Fury has “indicated” he will return for a fight against Anthony Joshua if it is the “right deal”, his promoter Frank Warren confirmed.

Warren confirmed negotiations for the long-awaited fight were taking place and that it would happen “sometime in late summer” in 2026.

Warren told Sky Sports News: “There’s been some talks going on, there’s nothing been signed yet, but Tyson’s indicated if it’s the right deal, he’ll definitely do it.

“I think it’s going in the right direction and hopefully we’ll get some news pretty soon as to what’s going to happen.”

Warren added: “I do believe it will happen.”

A bout between Joshua and Fury – two of the greatest heavyweights of their generation and two of the best British heavyweights of all time – has been mooted for years but has never come to fruition.

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But The Ring Magazine, owned by head of Riyadh Season, Turki Alalshikh, reported last week that the bout was being lined up for next year.

The publication also reported that both fighters were slated for separate fights in 2026 as part of Riyadh Season.

Having not fought since defeat to Daniel Dubois in September 2024, the 36-year-old Joshua returns to action this Friday against Jake Paul in Miami. Fury, 37, announced his latest retirement from boxing at the start of this year after two defeats to Oleksandr Usyk in 2024.

“AJ’s fighting, or whatever you want to call it, this week against Jake Paul and there’s talk of him fighting again early in 2026,” said Warren. “Tyson’s been out for a while now. He may have a warm-up fight but if this fight happens – which I believe it will – it will be sometime in late summer.

“So that’s another seven months away, so he’ll certainly have a fight in between I think if he comes back.”

On Fury’s current condition, Warren added: “He has been in the gym full-time training very hard.

“He’s in great nick, he looks well and he’s said many times himself he would like to come back and fight again.

“And 2026 I believe, provided the deal’s right, I think you’ll see him back in the ring again.”

The Queensberry Promotions founder says it is the fight long demanded by fans.

“The fans have been asking for this, and everybody has been talking about it, for years and years and years,” said Warren.

“It’s better that if it’s going to happen it happens now rather than these guys come back and talk about doing it in five or six years’ time.

“Anybody who I talk to about boxing that’s the one thing they always mention – ‘When are these two getting it on? Are they ever going to get it on? We never got to see it.’

“It will happen. I think it will happen and when it does happen I think it’s going to be massive.”

 Former world heavyweight champion Tyson Fury said  he had retired from boxing just weeks after suffering a second straight defeat at the hands of Oleksandr Usyk.

 “I’m going to make this short and sweet,” the British fighter said in a social media post on Monday. “I’d like to announce my retirement from boxing.”

 “It’s been a blast, I’ve loved every single minute of it,” added Fury, who has, however, previously quit only to return to the ring.

The “Gypsy King”, 36, last fought on December 21 when he lost his rematch against WBA, WBC and WBO champion Usyk in Riyadh.

Asked after the fight whether the public would see him fight again, Fury said: “You might do, you might not do. Who knows?”

Fury enjoyed two stints as heavyweight champion and retires with a record of 34 wins, two defeats and one draw.

He announced he was quitting after beating Dillian Whyte in April 2022 but returned to action later that year.

Frank Warren, who promotes Fury, told the BBC he had not spoken to the boxer prior to his retirement announcement.

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 “I’ve said all along that there is no way I will be trying in any way to influence him,” Warren said.

 “If that what he wants to do, that’s great. He’s done everything he can do. Probably been the best British heavyweight of his generation by far.

 “Two-time world champion, two closely fought fights against Usyk. He’s got plenty of money, got his wits about him, got a lovely family. God bless him, enjoy.”

All three judges scored last month’s fight in Saudi Arabia 116-112 in Usyk’s favour.

The Ukrainian won their first fight in May 2024 by split decision.

Fury’s retirement appears to mean he will not take on another former world champion, Anthony Joshua, in a long-anticipated all-British showdown.

Joshua said Saturday that a fight with Fury “has to happen this year”.

And Joshua’s promoter, Matchroom’s Eddie Hearn, said he doubted it was the end of the road for Fury.

 “If you haven’t got a heart for it anymore and you don’t want to compete anymore, I think retirement is the best option,” Hearn said.

 “Disappointing obviously for British fight fans because we’ve got the chance to make the biggest fight in boxing but if that is the last we see of him, he’s had a great career. I doubt it (is the last time we will see him box).”

Fury became world champion for the first time when he shocked Ukraine’s Wladimir Klitschko in November 2015, becoming WBA, IBF and WBO champion.

He was then out of the ring for more than two-and-a-half years, during which he tackled mental health issues.

Fury returned to action in 2018 and became a two-time champion by beating Deontay Wilder to claim the WBC belt in 2020 in the second of a trilogy of fights against the American.

He overcame a big scare against converted MMA fighter Francis Ngannou in 2023, before losing twice to Usyk last year.

Former world heavyweight champion Tyson Fury has announced his retirement from boxing following consecutive defeats to Oleksandr Usyk.

The announcement comes just two days after Anthony Joshua expressed interest in facing Fury in a long-anticipated British heavyweight clash.

Fury, 36, suffered his first loss to Usyk via a split decision on May 18, and a unanimous decision defeat in their rematch on December 21, both held in Saudi Arabia.

The initial loss cost Fury multiple heavyweight championships and his rematch defeat fueled speculation about his future in the sport.

In a video posted on Instagram, Fury confirmed his decision to retire from boxing.

“I’d like to announce my retirement from boxing. It’s been a blast. I have loved every single minute of it and I’m going to end with this—Dick Turpin wore a mask!”

This is not the first time “The Gypsy King” has announced his retirement. In April 2022, after defeating Dillian Whyte, Fury declared he would be hanging up his gloves, only to return six months later to fight Derek Chisora in a trilogy bout at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium.

Fury’s promoter, Frank Warren, expressed his support for the decision, telling Sky Sports:

“Good luck to him, God bless him. I’m thrilled for him. I’ve been saying since his last fight, whatever he chooses to do, I support him 100 percent.”

The retirement is a setback for Anthony Joshua, who had recently reiterated his determination to fight Fury in 2025, declaring, “It’s a fight I want to see because I am a fan of boxing. When I am in the gym, everyone is asking me [about this fight]. I ain’t got many years ahead of me. I want to leave the game with a bang and make an impact.”

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Joshua’s promoter, Eddie Hearn, called Fury’s decision “disappointing for British fight fans” but cast doubt on its permanence, adding, “I hope the Joshua-Fury fight can still happen.”

Fury retires as a two-time heavyweight world champion, having first won the title by defeating Wladimir Klitschko in 2015.

After a three-year hiatus, he returned to beat Deontay Wilder in their 2020 rematch to claim the WBC title.

Fury successfully defended his crown against Wilder again in 2021 and later against Dillian Whyte and Derek Chisora in 2022.

He survived a dramatic challenge against Francis Ngannou in 2023 before falling to Usyk twice last year.

Despite the disappointment of his final bouts, Fury’s legacy as one of the most iconic heavyweight champions of this generation remains intact.

For now, boxing fans will have to wait to see if Fury’s latest retirement truly marks the end of his storied career.

Tyson Fury has scotched speculation of an impending retirement from boxing by mapping out a five-flight plan, which includes showdowns against British rival Anthony Joshua

Unfounded scrutiny about the legitimacy of an eye injury caused his fight against Oleksandr Usyk, which had to be put back to May 18, led to suggestions Fury may have been contemplating hanging up his gloves.

But Fury, who has flirted with retiring several times in the past during his professional career, reaffirmed his commitment to fighting Usyk in Riyadh, where all four major world titles are set to be on the line.

Fury anticipates a rematch with the Ukrainian in another undisputed world heavyweight title fight before one or possibly two fights against Joshua and then a return bout versus Francis Ngannou.

“I keep hearing talk of people saying I should retire or I’m going to retire soon or whatever,” Fury said on his Instagram.

“I ain’t retiring – I’ve got two fights with Usyk for the undisputed, twice.

Tyson Fury goaded Oleksandr Usyk in a message to his fans as he confirmed his undisputed fight with the Ukrainian has been rescheduled for May 18

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“Then I’m going to fight AJ at least once, maybe twice, if there’s a rematch – if he wants one after the first battering I give him. Then I’m going to fight Ngannou again.

“That’s just the start. There’s five fights for you to whet your appetite. I ain’t going nowhere; I’m 35 years-old and in the prime of my life.”

In his most recent bout in October, Fury (34-0-1, 24KOs) was knocked down but got a controversial split points win over Ngannou, who was boxing professionally for the first time.

Just over a fortnight before a much-anticipated bout against Usyk, Fury had to pull the plug because of a cut above his right eye which he sustained in sparring and required “significant stitching”.

But organisers have worked efficiently to rearrange the contest between WBC champion Fury and WBA, IBF and WBO titlist Usyk which will crown the first undisputed heavyweight champion of the four-belt era.