Tyson Fury Returns to Boxing from Retirement, What Are Next Best Fights for Legend?

Former heavyweight champion Tyson Fury signaled his intention to end his most recent retirement and box again in 2026.

"Been away for a while but im back now, 37 years old and still punching," he wrote Sunday on Instagram. "Nothing better to do than punch 🥊 men in the face & get paid for it 😜."

Fury last fought in December 2024, losing a unanimous decision to Oleksandr Usyk.

As he plots his comeback, the 37-year-old may look to have a tuneup fight before he pursues a bigger challenge down the road. In terms of marquee battles, two opponents immediately stand out: Usyk and Anthony Joshua.

Fury and Joshua have circled one another throughout their careers. Nate Marrero of The Ring reported in December a tentative framework for a 2026 fight was being put into place.

Boxing fans have seen similar headlines before, though. Until the contracts are signed, nothing is final.

Some may also question whether some of the luster has come off the idea of Fury vs. Joshua. The back-to-back losses to Usyk punctured Fury's aura a bit, while Joshua's two victories since 2023 have come against much more inexperienced foes (Francis Ngannou and Jake Paul).

His return to the sport is also complicated by a fatal car crash in Nigeria that left him with minor injuries.

Fury would probably love the opportunity to avenge his defeats to Usyk. It took him nearly two years, but he got the better of Deontay Wilder after they fought to a split decision in 2018. Fury won by TKO in 2020 and then an 11th-round knockout in 2021.

Usyk's appetite for a third fight could be much less since he doesn't have as much go gain. He may feel he has nothing left to prove with Fury.

The 38-year-old has already begun talking about a retirement pathway as well, so he may relish fresh challenges with what's left of his time in the ring.