By Lehlohonolo Lehana.
Former heavyweight world champion Tyson Fury has announced he will return to boxing in 2026 nearly a year after he announced his latest retirement.
After a second points loss to heavyweight rival Oleksandr Usyk for three of the four major world titles in December 2024, Fury confirmed the end of his professional career.
Posting on Instagram on Sunday, Fury said: “2026 is that year. Return of the Mac. Been away for a while but I’m back now. 37 years old and still punching. Nothing better to do than punch men in the face & get paid for it.”
Fury had earlier shown that rather than spending time celebrating the new year, he was hard at work. The ‘Gypsy King’ released footage of him hitting the pads at the ISS Boxing and Muay Thai in Pattaya City, Thailand and has also done some light sparring with fellow heavyweight, Kevin Lerena.
He previously stepped away from boxing after stopping Dillian Whyte at Wembley Stadium in April 2022, only to return six months later.
Saudi Arabia powerbroker Turki Alalshikh had reportedly planned for Fury and long-time rival Anthony Joshua to take separate bouts in the Kingdom early in 2026 before finally meeting later in the year.
Meanwhile Joshua has posted on social media for the first time since he was injured in a car crash that killed two of his close friends in Nigeria.
On Sunday morning he posted two pictures on Instagram, one showing him sitting alongside his mother and family members of the victims including the mothers of Ghami and Ayodele, with one holding a photograph of Ghami.
The post has the caption: “My Brothers Keeper.”
Driver Adeniyi Mobolaji Kayode, 46, was charged at Sagamu Magistrates’ Court on Friday.
The defendant was granted bail of 5m naira and remanded pending his bail conditions being met. The case has been adjourned until 20 January.
Joshua, who was born in Watford, has family roots in Sagamu – a town in Ogun state, near the crash site. He had been spending time in Nigeria after his recent victory over American YouTuber-turned-boxer Jake Paul on 19 December.