Former world heavyweight champion Tyson Fury is expected to come out of retirement in 2026, according to Saudi boxing figurehead Turki Alalshikh.
Alalshikh, chairman of Saudi Arabia’s General Entertainment Authority and a driving force behind the country’s growing influence in global boxing, made the claim on Wednesday in a post on X (formerly Twitter).
“The ‘Gypsy King’ will be back,” Alalshikh wrote. “I talked with him, and I have his word to have him in Riyadh Season in 2026. We have a rabbit to hunt.”
The “rabbit” reference echoes Fury’s own taunts of Oleksandr Usyk, whom he repeatedly called a rabbit in the build-up to their heavyweight title clashes in Riyadh. Usyk defeated Fury in May 2024 by split decision to become the first undisputed four-belt heavyweight champion, then followed up with another win by unanimous decision in December. Fury, 36, retired in January following the rematch.
Shortly after Alalshikh’s post, Fury appeared to tease his return by sharing a photo of himself shaking hands with the Saudi official on Instagram, captioned: “Let’s see what 2026 brings.”
Despite the Saudi interest, Fury hinted earlier on Wednesday that he would prefer to return on home soil.
“Who would I rather fight right now? Usyk — because I want my revenge, in England,” Fury told reporters at an International Boxing Association event in Istanbul. “I don’t believe I’ve had a fair shout the last two times. That’s all I want — a fair shot.”
Fury also acknowledged a potential clash with Anthony Joshua, a bout long touted as the biggest in British boxing history.
“If not Usyk, then it’s Joshua — the biggest British fight ever. It would break all records, sell out Wembley in an hour. I believe that fight can happen, for sure, if I decide to come back.”
Fury and Joshua have never faced each other, with talks repeatedly breaking down over the years. Joshua’s most recent fight ended in a surprise stoppage loss to fellow Briton Daniel Dubois at Wembley last September.
Usyk, meanwhile, is set to defend his undisputed crown against Dubois at Wembley on Saturday, 19 July. A win would make the Ukrainian a two-time undisputed heavyweight champion — the first in history in the four-belt era.
