News Beat
Tyson Fury has ‘five or six different opponents’ in running for April comeback fight with frontunner revealed
TYSON FURY has up to SIX opponents in the pipeline waiting to welcome him back to the boxing ring.
Fury retired in the aftermath of his second consecutive loss to Oleksandr Usyk in 2024 – but has confirmed he will return this year.
The maverick Gypsy King is out is out in Thailand preparing for his latest comeback – with talks progressing behind the scenes with opponents.
His manager Spencer Brown revealed frightening 6ft 6in Russian Arslanbek Makhmudov, 36, is the frontrunner for the return bout.
Brown told Sky Sports: “We’re looking at five or six different opponents. [Makhmudov] is in the top three or four, most definitely.
“That’s not for me to announce. The promoters will announce that; everybody is working very hard to get this fight under way.
“We’re really down the road with the contract and an announcement is imminent.
“You will see Tyson back in the ring; we’re looking to get out there in April.”
Fury, 37, and Anthony Joshua, 36, were expected to return in warm-up bouts early this year before commencing a Battle of Britain in the spring.
But those plans were dashed after AJ was involved in a fatal car crash less than two weeks after knocking out YouTube star Jake Paul, 29, in Miami.
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Joshua survived the horror smash in Nigeria – four days after Christmas – but his two close friends Latif Ayodele and Sina Ghami unfortunately passed away.
AJ’s boxing future is rightly put aside as he grieves the loss of his fallen friends – as promoter Eddie Hearn gave an update and praised Fury.
Hearn said: “It’s great to see (Fury) back.
“He’s gone from not really posting on social media to every time I pick up my phone, there’s a new Tyson Fury story. Boxing can save you at many different stages in your life.
“I don’t think he was at a stage in his life where he needed saving, but you could tell that boxing once saved him, probably many times and, actually, now he looks happier than ever and full of life.
“Even away from boxing, I think physical training is the greatest form of mental help that you can get in so many different situations.
“And I think Fury looks like he’s buzzing at the moment. He’s over in Thailand, is it? Or wherever he is. He’s running every morning.
“He’s inspiring me! I look at it, I go, ‘good on you’. We’ve had a lot to say over the years, but I love the fact that he’s back in boxing.”
