Tyson Fury isn’t done plotting his next move just yet. Taking a break from Shorinji Kempo training on Saturday, the former two-time heavyweight champion provided an update on his comeback plans and floated a new potential opponent should the long-awaited showdown with Anthony Joshua fail to materialize this year.
Fury, who announced his fifth retirement in 2025, has quietly ramped up preparations over the past month for a return bout following back-to-back decision losses to heavyweight king Oleksandr Usyk in 2024. Now, at 37, “The Gypsy King” appears determined to write one more meaningful chapter.
And if Joshua isn’t ready?
Enter Fabio Wardley. “Let’s see how I am looking in my return fight, then later in 2026 Wardley would be a good option for me to try become a three-time heavyweight champion,” Fury said on social media. “Wardley has a hard fight himself coming up soon.”
A New Champion, A New Option
Wardley currently holds the WBO heavyweight title after Usyk vacated the belt in November rather than face the mandatory challenger. The sanctioning body elevated the unbeaten Brit to full champion shortly thereafter.
The 30-year-old Wardley (20-0-1, 19 KOs) is coming off an emphatic 11th-round stoppage of Joseph Parker in October, though his first title defense has yet to be announced. With Usyk holding the Ring, IBF, WBA and WBC titles and publicly uninterested in Wardley the division has opened a new lane for intrigue. Fury clearly sees opportunity there.
Respect for Joshua But a Clock Is Ticking
Despite teasing alternatives, Fury was careful to strike a respectful tone when discussing Joshua, who is still recovering from a tragic car crash in Nigeria that claimed the lives of two of his closest friends. Joshua escaped with minor injuries, but the emotional toll has understandably put his boxing future in question.
“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,” Fury said. “But if he is not going to continue in boxing, I’d like Big Fab as a big test. This would also be a massive spectacle.”
The Fury–Joshua bout has loomed over British boxing for nearly a decade, a financial juggernaut that somehow never crossed the finish line. With both men aging and coming off setbacks, the window is narrowing fast.
Wardley Welcomes the Smoke
Wardley, who has already made it clear that Fury sits high on his hit list, didn’t hesitate to respond. “All the best for the return big [Gypsy King]. See you soon,” Wardley wrote.
Whether Fury ultimately gets Joshua, Wardley, or another marquee name remains to be seen. But one thing is clear: retirement hasn’t dulled his ambition.
If Joshua can’t go, Fury is more than willing to roll the dice on a dangerous, unbeaten champion and chase history one last time.
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Robert LaMar is a writer for Dice City Sports. You can follow him on X via @RobertLaMar26
