Former world heavyweight champion Tyson Fury has revealed that the tragic car accident involving long-time rival Anthony Joshua played a major role in his decision to return to the ring.
Fury, 37, is set to end a 15-month absence from boxing when he faces Russian-born heavyweight Arslanbek Makhmudov on April 11 at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium.
The “Gypsy King” had stepped away from the sport following his second consecutive defeat to Oleksandr Usyk at the close of 2024, marking his fifth retirement announcement. He remained inactive throughout 2025 before confirming his latest comeback on January 4.
His decision came just a week after Joshua was involved in a fatal car crash in Nigeria in December, an accident that claimed the lives of his close friends, Sina Ghami and Latif Ayodele.
Speaking on Monday, Fury admitted the tragedy forced him to reassess his outlook on life and career.
“Tomorrow might not ever come,” Fury said. “The biggest turning point in this comeback for me was the tragedy that happened with Anthony Joshua. You should never put things off until tomorrow, or next year, or next week because tomorrow is not promised to anybody.”
Despite renewed public interest, any long-anticipated showdown between Fury and Joshua in 2026 appears unlikely for now, with both fighters pursuing separate paths.
Fury, a two-time world heavyweight champion, insisted his return is also driven by a desire to reignite excitement in the sport.
“The truth of the matter is I came back for one reason only to make boxing great again,” he declared. “Since I retired for the fifth time over a year ago, boxing has gone on a downward slope for me. It’s become quite boring.”
With his comeback now official, Fury will be looking not only to prove he still belongs among the heavyweight elite but also to restore what he believes has been missing from boxing during his absence.
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