Tyson Fury is open to a huge all-British heavyweight showdown — but not the one you might be thinking of.
The former heavyweight champion has been 'retired' for just over a year following two defeats to Oleksandr Usyk in 2024. The first came via razor close split decision loss in May that year and followed by a clearer victory from the Ukrainian seven months later. Fury then hung up the gloves early into 2025 but few believed they would stay on the hook for long because, well, Fury always comes back.
Fury has been dropping hints about his latest return. He did so while attending an IBA event out in Turkey back in July, stating that he’d love another crack at Usyk or a super-fight with his long-time rival and fellow British heavyweight Anthony Joshua. Fury then went back on his word about a comeback a month later, saying he was “too old and grey” while watching his horse ‘Big Gypsy King’ at Doncaster Racecourse.
However, it did not take long for Fury to make another U-turn. Fury has been out in Thailand training alongside his friend and former bridgerweight beltholder Kevin Lerena. The South African southpaw has posted multiple videos of the pair sparring and putting in the work in with the Thai sun blazing down upon them. On January 4, Fury declared on social media that he would fight again in 2026 because he has "nothing better to do".
There had been speculation, even before Fury’s announcement, that Saudi boxing financier Turki Alalshikh was planning to finally make a long awaited showdown between Fury and Joshua. However, following Joshua’s victory over Jake Paul last month, Joshua was injured in a fatal car collision in which two of his closest friends were killed. Joshua's focus is now understandably elsewhere.
So who else could potentially be a target for the returning Fury? With Usyk set on a clash with former heavyweight champion Deontay Wilder in the US later this year there are few men that would get the juices flowing for Fury. One man that could be an option is newly crowned WBO heavyweight champion Fabio Wardley. Following Usyk’s decision to vacate the strap and look elsewhere, Wardley was promoted from interim to full-champion by the WBO. Wardley, like Fury, is promoted by Queensberry.
BoxingScene posted on social media asking who would win a potential bout between the pair. There was mixed reaction from fans, with many believing Fury’s inactivity over the last 12 months would be a huge issue when facing the in-form Wardley. The post also brought a response from Fury himself.
“Big smoke for the GK [Gypsy King] after a long lay off,” Fury wrote on Instagram. “Could be an option later in 2026, God willing.”
