Tyson Fury Just Can’t Stay Away

Retirement… Again And Again

Fury’s relationship with retirement has always been complicated. The former unified heavyweight champion has announced his exit from the sport multiple times throughout his career. His first retirement came in 2013 after planned fights with David Haye collapsed. More notably, Fury stepped away in 2017 amid a prolonged battle with UK Anti-Doping authorities a period that also coincided with publicly acknowledged struggles with mental health and substance abuse.

Most recently, Fury walked away following a second consecutive loss to longtime rival Oleksandr Usyk in December 2024, seemingly closing the door on his era at the top of the division. History, however, suggested otherwise.

Joshua Fight Looms With Complications

If Fury does return in 2026, the most obvious and lucrative opponent remains fellow British superstar Anthony Joshua. The two have traded verbal shots for years, both in interviews and across social media, fueling anticipation for one of boxing’s most elusive mega-fights.

Joshua is coming off a high-profile knockout victory over Jake Paul, but his immediate future has been clouded by tragedy. The former two-time heavyweight champion was recently involved in a serious car accident in Nigeria that resulted in the deaths of two close friends and members of his coaching staff, while Joshua himself sustained injuries.

Despite their long-running rivalry, Fury was quick to offer condolences to Joshua in the aftermath of the accident a rare pause in the animosity that has defined their public exchanges.

Still the Showman, Still Dangerous

At 37 years old, Fury insists age is not a concern. His confidence and self-belief have never wavered, even as losses and retirements stacked up.

Whether his return leads to Joshua, another Usyk chapter, or a different heavyweight entirely remains unclear. What is clear is that Fury still believes he belongs in boxing’s biggest fights, on boxing’s biggest stages. Retirement, for Tyson Fury, has never been an ending. It’s just an intermission.