Tyson Fury to make comeback from retirement in heavyweight fight against Arslanbek Makhmudov in April
Published 28/01/2026 at 15:07 GMT
After back-to-back defeats to Oleksandr Usyk in 2024 seemingly spelt the end of Tyson Fury's professional boxing career, The Gypsy King is set to return to the ring in April for a heavyweight fight against Russian Arslanbek Makhmudov. The bout will be in the UK, with the venue still to be announced. Fury's last fight on home soil was against Derek Chisora in December 2022.
No Filter flashback: Fury v Chisora III
Video credit: TNT Sports
Tyson Fury will come out of retirement once again to fight Arslanbek Makhmudov in April.
The heavyweight great announced his retirement for the fifth time in early 2025 after losing to Oleksandr Usyk in Saudi Arabia.
But Fury later revealed his intention to return to training, and has now confirmed he will face Makhmudov in the UK, with the venue still to be decided.
"Excited to be back," Fury said. "Heart's always been and always will be in boxing. Someone go tell the king that the ace is back!"
Makhmudov, who has won 21 of his 23 professional fights (19 via knockout), expressed his delight at facing the former two-time heavyweight world champion.
"I am thrilled about the opportunity. I’m coming to deliver a war," he said. "Tyson Fury has been a big champion. I will be more ready than ever to leave with a massive W."
The Russian has only been beaten twice: by Agit Kabayel, now the WBC interim titlist, and Olympian Guido Vianello.
But Fury, even after a year out of the sport, will be Makhmudov's most high-profile and challenging fight yet.
The 37-year-old had never lost in 35 fights before his two clashes with Usyk, who finally felled the Englishman.
Fury then retired but shared footage of a training camp in Thailand with South African boxer Kevin Lerena in late 2025.
In early January, he revealed his intention to return to boxing, writing on Instagram: "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."
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Fury's return will be highly-anticipated, but four-time super-middleweight Carl Froch gave a candid assessment of the news.
"Coming back into boxing at 37 years old, when he has been out for over a year, is anybody bothered?" Froch said.
"Does anybody care? I don’t want to slander him because it’s Tyson Fury and he is great; he has been a great servant to boxing.
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Highlights: Usyk beats Fury by unanimous decision to retain titles after engrossing fight
Video credit: TNT Sports
"He is a brilliant character, and I don’t want to give him any stick, but I’m not bothered; I don’t care anymore.
"He has retired five times. When he retired last, I knew that he was going to come back out of retirement. I think that the only reason that he should be coming back and the only fight worth looking at would be the AJ fight.
"Now he is coming back after over a year out, it doesn’t make any sense, it’s pointless.
"If you’re going to come back and fight and try to be a top boy, and you want to get back into the mix at world level, jump in there with someone like Moses Itauma or [Agit] Kabayel."
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