Despite his repeated announcements of retirement, the charismatic former heavyweight champion Tyson Fury appears poised to make another comeback, with a return to the ring anticipated in 2026.
“He has indicated that he wants to fight next year,” promoter Frank Warren confirmed on his Queensberry Promotions YouTube channel on October 9.
Fury (34-2-1, 24 KOs) has not competed since his second decision loss to undisputed world heavyweight champion Oleksandr Usyk in December, after which he (not for the first time) declared he was hanging up his gloves.
If the 37-year-old Fury embarks on another comeback, who will be his next opponent? Will he immediately jump into a challenging contest, such as the long-awaited showdown with Anthony Joshua, or will he opt for a simpler fight to ease back into action?
Here, we explore five potential contenders for the `Gypsy King`s` return.
The Fight That Should Happen: Anthony Joshua
While perhaps not as monumental as it would have been when they jointly held all the heavyweight world titles, the demand for a Fury vs. Joshua clash remains incredibly high, particularly in the UK.
Discussions between the English rivals first began seriously five years ago, but repeated attempts to materialize one of boxing`s most significant potential bouts have failed.
As both fighters approach 40 and the twilight of their careers, there is a growing realization that time is running out to capitalize on the immense financial potential of sharing a ring, regardless of whether a title is on the line.
“His retirement was one of the most astonishing I’ve ever seen. We never expected that to happen, did we?” Matchroom promoter Eddie Hearn, who has managed Joshua’s career since his professional debut in 2013, recently told ESPN.
“I know that if the deal is right, he will fight Anthony Joshua. He last fought in December, so it will soon be a year out of the ring for him. I know Fury’s team are all talking to Turki Alalshikh [chairman of the Saudi Arabia General Entertainment Authority], and I saw an interview with Frank Warren saying he had spoken to Tyson Fury and he is coming back.”
Joshua (28-4, 25 KOs), a two-time heavyweight world champion, has not fought since being knocked out in Round 5 by Daniel Dubois in September 2024. Elbow surgery has delayed the 36-year-old Joshua’s return, but he is expected to box again late this year or early 2026. Hearn informed ESPN that Joshua will have an interim fight before a potential encounter with Fury.
“The obvious one is Joshua because everyone wanted to see that fight and still wants to see that fight. That’s an obvious choice,” Warren stated. “To be blunt, it’s all about the money.”
Recently, both Warren and Hearn have separately engaged in discussions about making Joshua vs. Fury with Alalshikh, currently the most influential figure in global boxing.
“I believe Turki Alalshikh is probably the only one who can make the Tyson Fury fight because both guys will demand a huge amount of money, and Turki has a reputation for orchestrating the biggest fights in the sport,” Hearn commented.
“And the biggest fight in the sport is Anthony Joshua versus Tyson Fury, without a doubt.”
The question remains whether Fury feels prepared to go directly into a fight with Joshua, or if he will opt for an interim bout, potentially pushing the Fury vs. Joshua clash until the second half of 2026.
Possible Warm-up Opponents: Martin Bakole or Fabio Wardley
After more than a year out of the ring, Fury might decide he needs a tune-up fight. An opponent who poses less of a threat but is still a recognized name is Martin Bakole.
The 33-year-old Bakole is actively seeking a major fight and has previously sparred with Fury. Bakole (21-2-1, 16 KOs) was clinically dispatched by Joseph Parker within two rounds in February, though he stepped in as a late-notice substitute. Bakole then fought to a draw with Efe Ajagba in May and has recently been linked to fighting Joshua in Nigeria.
If Bakole ends up fighting Joshua, Fury could easily be matched against Fabio Wardley. Both are promoted by Queensberry Promotions, and Wardley (19-0-1, 18 KOs) is outside the elite group, whose relative inexperience could be exploited by Fury`s intelligent boxing.
However, Wardley is dangerous, as he demonstrated by knocking out the previously unbeaten Justis Huni in June, despite seemingly losing the fight at that point. Wardley is scheduled to face Parker on October 25.
The Fight We Don`t Want to See: Oleksandr Usyk
Fury harbors a profound sense of injustice regarding the outcome of his rematch with Usyk — a sentiment not widely shared by the media.
The 38-year-old Usyk holds a 2-0 record over Fury and continued his imperious form with a masterful fifth-round KO win over Dubois in July. It is difficult to make a strong case for Fury upsetting the odds in a third encounter against the undisputed heavyweight champion, but alongside Joshua, this might be the fight Fury desires.
Usyk has indicated that his retirement is imminent, and a big-money trilogy fight could tempt him before he steps away from boxing. However, Fury stands to earn more against Joshua and has a better chance of winning, which makes a Usyk trilogy unlikely to be his immediate next step.
The Most Dangerous Opponent: Moses Itauma
Fury is acutely aware of Itauma`s danger, especially after the 20-year-old secured his eighth first-round stoppage victory in his most recent fight.
“Moses Itauma will wreck all them old men out of the division,” Fury declared on social media in August following Itauma’s first-round demolition of Dillian Whyte, who had lasted six rounds with Fury for the WBC world title in April 2022.
“Usyk, [Joshua], [Jarrell] Miller. Whoever there is that’s old. [Zhilei] Zhang, whoever else the f— there is, Luis Ortiz. All these big names of the past. Even the man who took my belts, Usyk, Moses will wreck him because it’s a young man versus an old man. And an old man can’t mess with a young man.”
Itauma (13-0, 11 KOs) is rumored to fight on December 13, but it will not be against Fury.
The Fight He Won`t Take: Joseph Parker
Parker, the former WBO champion, is in an excellent position to secure a world title shot in 2026, provided he avoids defeat against Wardley on October 25.
Parker (36-3, 24 KOs) currently holds the WBO interim title, and if he triumphs over Wardley, he will enter 2026 as the first in line to challenge Usyk, potentially in Usyk’s final fight before retirement.
One might assume that, given Parker’s status, he would be an ideal opponent for Fury to regain form. However, Fury and Parker are close friends; Parker even trains out of Fury’s gym in Morecambe, England, and they share the same trainer, Andy Lee.
This is one fight that is highly unlikely to happen.
