Tyson Fury Back In The Gym

The primary motivation for Fury is a high-stakes trilogy with Usyk to settle their rivalry once and for all. However, the path to that is complicated; Usyk has recently expressed a preference for a fresh challenge against Deontay Wilder in the United States, making the trilogy unlikely. 

While a bout against Anthony Joshua was once the targeted comeback plan, that matchup has been sidelined following Joshua’s recent tragedy in Nigeria. Joshua was discharged from a Lagos hospital earlier this week after surviving a fatal car accident that claimed the lives of two of his closest team members. With Joshua focusing on his recovery and grieving his friends, Fury’s next opponent is unclear.

Alternatives

With Joshua’s timeline uncertain following his tragic accident in Nigeria, Fabio Wardley could be an option. Wardley has recently surged in the rankings, even being elevated to WBO world champion status after Usyk vacated the belt. For Fury, a fight against Wardley would offer a massive “Battle of Britain” stadium event at Wembley. It allows Fury to test his sharpness against a younger, hungry champion without the immediate technical test of Usyk.

The is also the reality of the Francis Ngannou rematch. Their first encounter in 2023 saw Fury dropped and nearly defeated in one of the biggest shocks in sports history. Although Joshua later “neutralized” the Ngannou threat with a clinical knockout, Fury might feel a personal need to “correct the record” with a better performance. This would be a massive global event that offers Fury a path back to the winner’s circle with less risk.