Tyson Fury to return from retirement for Riyadh Season in 2026 promises Turki Alalshikh, possible trilogy with Oleksandr Usyk on the cards
By Matt Jones
Updated 02/07/2025 at 21:56 GMT+1
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Tyson Fury has left the door open for a return to boxing, just months after he announced his retirement. The former heavyweight champion of the world said "I might come back" while being grilled at an IBA event in Turkey. The interview comes on the same day that one of Saudi Arabia's leading sports promotors said he has Fury's "word" that the 36-year-old will box again in 2026.
Highlights: Usyk beats Fury by unanimous decision to retain titles after engrossing fight
Video credit: TNT Sports
Turki Alalshikh insists Tyson Fury will fight again in 2026.
The 36-year-old retired from boxing following his defeat by unanimous decision to Oleksandr Usyk in December.
That was the second defeat of his glittering career, with both of them coming from the fists of the undisputed Ukrainian heavyweight world champion.
But Alalshikh believes the Manchester-born fighter will make a sensational return.
Writing on X, he said: "The 'Gypsy King' will be back!
"I talked with him, and I have his word to have him in Riyadh Season in 2026. We have a rabbit to hunt!"
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Usyk was repeatedly referred to as a "rabbit" by Fury in the build-up to their earlier bouts.
London 2012 gold medal winner Anthony Joshua, also a former heavyweight champion of the world, has long been talked about as a potential opponent for Fury.
As recently as May, the 35-year-old said he was ready to take on his fellow Brit "when he's ready".
Alalshikh is the chairman of Saudi Arabia's General Entertainment Authority, who are the chief promoters for boxing's Riyadh Season.
It was in the Saudi capital that Fury lost to Usyk in December, while his last three fights have all been held at the Kingdom Arena.
After the most recent of those, the 36-year-old appeared to announce his retirement when he wrote: "[I've] been very blessed in my life and career [and] achieved the upmost in boxing; was a epic journey along the way.
"Thanks to all the fans that supported & believed in me along the way. Hope you enjoy it as much as I did. THE END."
It would not be the first time Fury has U-turned on a decision to quit the sport.
With the itch of wanting to win his world titles back needing to be scratched, he may be tempted back into the ring.
Speaking at an event in Turkey, he left the door open for a return.
"I might come back," he said. "It's the first time I've been around a boxing event for six months. It's good to be back in the boxing game.
"Everybody wants to fight me, because I'm the cash cow, unfortunately for me. I'm not a cheap person. Everything's expensive. I've got expensive tastes.
"If I did come back, hypothetically speaking, if I was to return and I was to box Daniel Dubois, I would box his ears off. He wouldn't land a glove on me. It would be a one-sided beat down."
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No Filter: Usyk delivers masterclass to beat Fury and retain titles in epic rematch
Video credit: TNT Sports
The fight that really interests Fury is a rematch against Usyk.
And if that did happen, he wants it to be on home soil, in the UK.
He continued: "Who would I rather fight, right now? Usyk. Because I want my revenge, in England.
"That's all I want; I want a fair shout and I don't believe I've got a fair shout the last two times. So I don't know what I'm going to have to do, because it can't go to a decision.
"That's the one I want, but if don't get that, then it would be Joshua, the biggest British fight that would ever happen.
"It would break all records and it would sell out 100,000 at Wembley in an hour. It's a fight that I think that can happen, for sure, if I do decide to come back."
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