Tyson Fury has confirmed he will return to boxing in 2026 — but insists the comeback has nothing to do with money.
Fury, 37, has been out of the ring since his back-to-back defeats to Oleksandr Usyk in 2024 and announced his retirement in early 2025.
But after admitting that he’s made a fortune over his illustrious career, just why has Fury announced his turn roughly a year after stepping away.
“I have won literally everything from regional belts in England to world titles. From Fighter of the Year twice, Ring Magazine twice, every world title belt,” he said in a new video while training in Thailand. “But for me, there is nothing else other than the fight game.
“I love the fight game. It’s not for financial gain. I could have retired 10 years ago. I have made an absolute fortune, it’s not about the money. Although, I always want a good deal, for sure!”
Fury’s comeback, he says, is about passion, not paydays. “It’s mainly about the love of the fight game and the sport. I am 37, I’ll be 38 this year. But I love to fight. I have zero other interests, only fighting. I was born and raised to fight. My destiny is in the fight game.”
The comments echo a message Fury has repeated throughout his career — that boxing is inseparable from who he is. “I’ve made an absolute fortune,” he added. “It’s not about the money. It’s the life I chose. I was born and raised to fight; my destiny lies within the fight game.
“We ain’t stopping. We ain’t f***ing leaving.”
The heavyweight star, known for his outspoken style and unpredictability, has now resumed full training and is already sparring South African fighter Kevin Lerena.
His return plans come after admitting that walking away from boxing completely was harder than expected. The 6ft 9in fighter said he simply couldn’t imagine life without the ring: “Punched to death, don’t know if it’s Tuesday, Wednesday or December, but it’s the game I chose, it’s the life we chose. This is the life I chose.”
Possible Opponents On Fury’s Radar
Fury has a few names in mind for his return year. Fabio Wardley, the current WBO heavyweight champion, is among the front-runners. “Wardley could be an option in 2026. Big smoke after a long lay off,” Fury told Queensberry Promotions.
Wardley, for his part, has welcomed the challenge. “It was good because he was already on mine,” he told Sky Sports after hearing he’d made Fury’s shortlist. “It makes no difference to me. I haven’t got a world title just to take easy fights and hold onto it, and hide away with it. The biggest names out there are the guys I want to be in fights with.”
A potential clash with Anthony Joshua had been tipped as the long-awaited all-British showdown fans have craved for years. The pair had a framework agreed for a 2026 bout following Joshua’s win over Jake Paul, but that fight now looks uncertain. Joshua’s future in the sport is unclear after a serious car accident in Nigeria that killed two of his close friends.
Fury also hasn’t ruled out a third fight with Usyk, who still holds the WBC, WBA and IBF belts. A trilogy would represent Fury’s toughest route back to world title contention, but victorious title bout would put him alongside Muhammad Ali as a three-time heavyweight world champion.
Fury’s latest comeback might surprise few who have followed his career — he’s now announced his retirement several times only to reverse it.
The self-styled “Gypsy King” has spoken openly about his mental health and the challenge of adjusting to life outside competition. Like many fighters before him, he admits that stepping away from the routine, adrenaline and sense of identity that comes with boxing is almost impossible.
His decision to fight on despite age, injuries and back-to-back losses has sparked debate within the sport. Critics question whether another comeback risks tarnishing his legacy, while supporters say Fury’s return – and the theatrics that will no doubt come with it – will inject fresh excitement into the heavyweight division.
With his comeback pencilled in for 2026 and names like Wardley, Usyk and Joshua all in the mix, Tyson Fury’s next chapter could be one of the most compelling stories in boxing — the fight of a man not chasing fortune, but fulfilling what he calls his destiny.
Featured image credit: Instagram/TysonFury
