“If the Joshua Fight Never Happens” Tyson Fury Opens Up on the Opponent He Still Needs to Face
Tyson Fury announced his boxing comeback at the start of the year following his retirement after his second defeat to Oleksandr Usyk in December 2024.
He has shared a series of videos documenting his training camp and hit out at trolls who mocked his physique.
A date has been confirmed for the 37-year-old’s return as a big-name opponent has been touted to welcome him back to the ring.
That fight would serve as a tune-up before entering a massive clash in the second half of 2026.
A blockbuster all-British showdown against Anthony Joshua, who beat Jake Paul last month, had been mooted until he was involved in a fatal car crash, which took the lives of two of his close friends and team members.
It remains to be seen whether Joshua resumes his legendary boxing career, with promoter Eddie Hearn issuing a fresh update after catching up with him in the wake of the accident that happened in late December.
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Fury is aware fans across the country and beyond want to see him face Joshua, but he acknowledges the situation his rival finds himself in.
If the Joshua fight doesn’t materialise, then the self-proclaimed ‘Gypsy King’ is eyeing another domestic battle.
He has set his sights on Fabio Wardley, who is the current WBO world heavyweight champion.
Fury shared a post on social media confirming his desire to face the 31-year-old if Joshua calls time on his career.
“Let’s see how I am looking in my return fight, then later in 2026 this [Wardley] would be a good option for me to try become 3 x heavyweight champion,” he said.
“@fabiowardley has a hard fight himself coming up soon.”
Fury added: “I know the fight you guys all want but at this time I won’t say his name out of respect as he is in mourning.
“But if he is not going to continue in boxing, I’d like Big Fab as a big test.
“This would be also a massive spectacle!”
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Wardley stopped Joseph Parker in his last appearance, claiming the interim WBO world heavyweight title in the process.
However, after Usyk relinquished his WBO belt, the Ipswich star was subsequently promoted to full champion.
He hopes to defend his WBO championship against Fury, saying he is ‘extremely keen’ to face the two-time world heavyweight champion.
On facing Fury, Wardley, who is unbeaten in his professional career, said: “I’m not going to run off with my belt and not offer it out to anyone. The biggest names out there are the guys I want to be in fights with.
“I think being open [to negotiations] might be a bit of an understatement. I’d be extremely keen to see if he’s genuine about it or not.
“He may be looking at it like it might be an easy touch for him to roll out of retirement, come into a fight, pick up a world title and go on to bigger things, but as fighters of late have found out, I’m quite the banana skin.”
He added: “I’d back myself against anyone in this division. That much has been proven about me.
“No matter the fighter, the occasion, the night, the event, or even how the fight in itself is going, I’m always in there with a chance. I’m not going to give up until I hear that final bell.”
