Tyson Fury has announced he will return to the sport of boxing after many social media posts teasing his return.
Fury has not fought in over 12 months and was last seen in action in December 2024 where was beaten for a second time by Oleksandr Usyk.
It wasn’t the first time ‘The Gypsy King’ announced his retirement but it was the first time he was no longer unbeaten.
Fury was on the wrong side of back-to-back decision losses in both fights with Usyk where he was outclassed over 24 rounds.
He claimed he was done with boxing, retiring last January, but to the joy of many in the boxing world he has now revealed he will return but the opponent he will face is unknown.
Arslanbek Makhmudov
Arslanbek Makhmudov is a name that continues to be paired with Fury as a potential next fight.
On paper it makes a lot of sense.
Makhmudov poses a constant threat and this is proven by his staggering 90+% knockout ratio.
’The Lion’ comes off a big win over Yorkshire cult hero Dave Allen.
The pair fought in front of a packed out Sheffield Arena where Makhmudov won a comfortable points decision.
Despite his knockout threat, the Russian should be a comfortable return fight for ‘The Gypsy King’ who has operated on a much higher level to Makhmudov for coming up to two decades now.
This fight is probably the most likely right now with Fury eyeing world title challenges later in the year.
Fabio Wardley
WBO world champion, Fabio Wardley has emerged as a front runner for a fight with Fury later on in 2026.
A fight with wardley would give him the opportunity to become a three-time heavyweight champion
Considering Fury has lost twice to the other world champion in Usyk a fight with Wardley makes a lot more sense.
There definitely seems to be legs behind this fight with both men commenting.
Fury said on social media: “Big smoke for the GK after a long lay-ff, [Wardley] could be an option later in 2026.
“Let’s see how I look and get on in my return.”
Wardley didn’t hesitate to entertain the fight in an interview with Sky Sports stating: “It’s good. [to be named on Fury’s hit list] because he was already on mine.
“That would be a fight that I’m hugely up for. Give me a call anytime.”
Mahmoud Charr
A third name that Fury may face is Mahmoud Charr.
Charr is a former WBA (regular) world champion, he picked this title up in 2017 against Alexandr Ustinov on a points decision.
He was later stripped of the title in 2022 due to inactivity.
A court ruling in 2023 reinstated him as WBA champion which he then lost to Kubrat Pulev in 2024.
On Monday Charr called Fury out.
A final name Fury has opened the door to fighting is WBC interim world champion Agit Kabayel.
The German returns to action this weekend against unbeaten Polish heavyweight Damian Knyba.
He looks to impress in a homecoming contest back in Oberhausen, Germany.
With him holding the WBC title and being on such a good run a fight with Kabayel may interest ’The Gypsy King’.
Similarly to Wardley it may be seen as a step too far to go straight into after over a year out of the ring but may make sense later in 2026.
