Frank Rondel
Tyson Fury, the former two-time heavyweight world champion who retired in January following back-to-back defeats to long-time rival Oleksandr Usyk, is preparing to return to the ring within the next few months, reports customreceipt.com via Mirror. The 37-year-old British boxer has been intensively training in Thailand and was recently seen practicing alongside Kevin Lerena, the reigning WBC bridgerweight champion, as he ramps up for his next bout.
Fury, known as the ‘Gypsy King,’ publicly addressed social media criticism over his weight while sharing updates on his return plans. On Instagram, he stated, “Real talk. I’m so serious about my return to boxing, I’m the uncrowned king. 2026 is return of the MAC.” He added that he is taking a short break between training sessions, saying, “Just doing a nice bit of chilling out before the second session of the day. Working very hard for this return. The Gypsy King is not taking this lightly whatsoever.”
Regarding comments about his physique, Fury acknowledged the criticism, stating, “I’ve read a few comments that I am looking a bit hench. Chubby. Fat. Well, welcome to my world. Never been any different. Beat everybody with a fat belly. Never been any different. Never made any odds before.” He explained that his current weight is approximately 20 stone and expects to reduce it to under 19 stone for his comeback, ensuring he remains “nice and loose and fast.” Fury highlighted the challenge of returning after a year-long absence but expressed confidence in his preparation.
Fury emphasized that his comeback is motivated by passion for the sport rather than financial considerations. He clarified, “I have literally won everything from regional belts in England to super world titles… fighter of the year twice. Ring Magazine twice. WBC…. every one of them. Every world title I have fought for… for me, there is nothing else other than the fight game. I love this fight game. There is nothing in it for financial gain.”
He also reflected on his career longevity, noting, “I could have retired 10 years ago. I’ve made an absolute fortune. It’s not about the money, although I always want a good deal for sure. It’s mainly about the love of the fight game and the sport. I’m 37, I’m 38 this year, I am older than a motherf*****, but I love to fight. I have zero other interests… only fighting.”
The British boxer outlined his lifelong dedication to the sport, saying, “I was born and raised to fight. My destiny lies within the fight game. And at the end of it all, I’ll be punching like a motherf*****, and I’ll probably be ending up in a wheelchair like the rest of them all. Punched to death, don’t know if it’s Tuesday, Wednesday or December, but it’s the game I chose, it’s the life we chose. This is the life I chose! We ain’t stopping. We ain’t f****** leaving.”
Looking ahead, Fury is expected to return to competition within the coming months, with a potential high-profile summer bout in consideration. Arslanbek Makhmudov has emerged as a possible opponent. Makhmudov, a 6’6 heavyweight who last fought in October against British boxer David Allen, could be Fury’s adversary, with Fury’s promoter Frank Warren supporting the matchup. Warren told Box Nation, “He’s a very intelligent guy. He knows what he wants to do and how to get there. Of course there’s a discussion over opponents and so forth, but he’s not stupid… he knows what he’s got to do. Maybe, we may do that [Makhmudov fight].”
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