Why Tyson Fury should -- or shouldn't -- consider these opponents for his return

We person been present a fewer times earlier with Tyson Fury, but it looks similar the entertaining erstwhile heavyweight champion is acceptable to end his retirement -- again -- and could beryllium backmost successful the ringing successful 2026.

"He's indicated that helium wants to combat adjacent year," promoter Frank Warren said connected his Queensberry Promotions YouTube transmission connected Oct. 9.

Fury (34-2-1, 24 KOs) has not boxed since a 2nd determination loss to undisputed satellite heavyweight champion Oleksandr Usyk successful December, aft which helium announced (not for the archetypal time) helium was hanging up his gloves.

If Fury, 37, does embark connected different comeback, who volition beryllium his adjacent opponent? Will helium spell consecutive into a challenging fight? Will helium yet look Anthony Joshua oregon volition helium privation to easiness himself backmost with an easier assignment?

ESPN looks astatine 5 contenders for the instrumentality of the "Gypsy King."

The 1 that should happen: Anthony Joshua

It mightiness not beryllium arsenic large arsenic it erstwhile would person been erstwhile they shared each the heavyweight satellite titles betwixt them, but determination is inactive a large request to spot Fury vs. Joshua, particularly successful the U.K.

The English rivals archetypal had superior talks to look each other 5 years ago, but successive attempts to marque the combat person failed to present 1 of the biggest fights disposable successful boxing.

Since some are present person to 40 and nearing the extremity of their careers, determination is simply a realization that clip is moving retired to marque a luck from sharing a ringing unneurotic whether a rubric is connected the enactment oregon not.

"[Fury's] was 1 of the astir astonishing retirements I've ever seen. We ne'er knew that was going to happen, did we?" Matchroom promoter Eddie Hearn, who has guided Joshua's vocation since his nonrecreational debut successful 2013, precocious told ESPN.

"I cognize that if the woody is close helium volition combat Anthony Joshua. He past fought successful December truthful he's been retired of the ringing for a twelvemonth soon. I cognize that Fury's squad are each talking to Turki Alalshikh [chairman of the Saudi Arabia General Entertainment Authority], and I saw an interrogation with Frank Warren saying helium had talked to Tyson Fury and he's coming back."

Joshua (28-4, 25 KOs), a two-time heavyweight satellite champion, has not fought since getting knocked retired successful Round 5 by Daniel Dubois successful September 2024. An elbow surgery has delayed Joshua, 36, from resuming his career, but helium is expected to container again precocious this twelvemonth oregon aboriginal 2026. Hearn told ESPN Joshua volition person an interim combat earlier a imaginable combat with Fury.

"The evident 1 is Joshua due to the fact that everybody wanted to spot that combat and [still] wants to spot that fight. That's an evident one," Warren said. "To beryllium blunt, it's each astir the money."

Recently, Warren and Hearn person separately held talks astir making Joshua vs. Fury with Alalshikh, presently the astir almighty fig successful planetary boxing.

"I deliberation Turki Alalshikh is astir apt the lone 1 who tin marque the Tyson Fury combat due to the fact that some guys are going to privation a immense magnitude of wealth and Turki has a estimation for making the biggest fights successful the sport," Hearn said.

"And the biggest combat successful the athletics is Anthony Joshua versus Tyson Fury, nary question astir it."

The question is whether Fury feels helium is acceptable to spell consecutive into a combat with Joshua adjacent oregon person an interim fight, which could perchance hold Fury vs. Joshua until the 2nd fractional of 2026.

The 1 that tin happen: Martin Bakole oregon Fabio Wardley

After implicit a twelvemonth retired of the ring, Fury whitethorn determine helium wants a warmup fight. An hostile that brings little threat, but is inactive a large capable sanction to beryllium a credible opponent, is Bakole.

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