Tyson Fury finally has a date for his return to the boxing ring.
The former two-time heavyweight champion has not boxed since his back-to-back decision losses against the great Oleksandr Usyk in 2024.
Fury (34-2-1, 24 KOs) disputed the notion that he lost either fight, even though neither decision was viewed as particularly controversial.
‘The Gypsy King’ announced his retirement from boxing in the aftermath of the rematch. Unlike his other ring absences, there was a sense this one might stick as he spent the entirety of 2025 on the sidelines.
But talk of a Fury comeback never really went away, and the 37-year-old confirmed he was ready for another crack at heavyweight glory as he resumed training in early 2026.
Now, there is a confirmed fight against a big-punching opponent, a date, and new promotional and broadcasting arrangements.
Here’s all you need to know about Tyson Fury’s 2026 ring return.
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Tyson Fury next fight
Fury will face Russian heavyweight Arslanbek Makhmudov on Saturday, April 11.
Makhmudov (21-2, 19 KOs) is himself in the midst of a career rebuild. The 36-year-old was undefeated with 17 knockouts in 18 wins when he faced Agit Kabyal on the inaugural Riyadh Season card in December 2023, only to be dropped three times and stopped inside four rounds.
Inside a year of that shocking loss, Makhmudov was stopped in the eighth round against Guido Vianello, once again prompting serious questions over his stamina and conditioning. He answered some of those with a points win over the popular but limited British heavyweight Dave Allen last October.
How to watch Fury vs. Makhmudov
Fury vs. Makhmudov will be shown on Netflix, marking the streaming giant’s latest venture into boxing after it showed Anthony Joshua vs. Jake Paul, Katie Taylor vs. Amanda Serrano 3, and Saul ‘Canelo’ Alvarez vs. Terence Crawford in 2025.
The fight will be available at no extra cost to Netflix’s 325 million global subscribers.
Saudi boxing supremo Turki Alalshikh announced the fight, having previously worked with Fury for his fight against Francis Ngannou and the Usyk bouts. Fury vs. Makhmudov will be the latest Riyadh Season event promoted under the Ring Magazine banner.
This means there is no direct involvement for Fury’s long-time promoter Frank Warren, although the veteran UK matchmaker has worked frequently alongside Alalshikh and Riyadh Season since their entry into boxing.
Fury has previously collaborated with Netflix on the documentary At Home With The Furys, the second season of which premieres in the spring. Netflix is also working on a feature-length documentary charting the Fury’s career.
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Where is Fury vs. Makhmudov?
Although a venue has not yet been announced for Fury vs. Makhmudov, the fight will take place in the UK.
The statement released to announce the fight noted it would be Fury’s first fight on British soil in four years.
In reality, it will be three years and four months since Fury stopped Derek Chisora in the 10th round of their third fight at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium in December 2022, which also staged both all-British blockbusters between Chris Eubank Jr. and Conor Benn in 2025.
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That could be the venue once again. Last November, in an interview with DAZN teasing his 2026 plans, Alalshikh said: “I will not give you the answer but we will have in April [a fight] in Tottenham, big fights, then in September we will have a big surprise for the fans in England.”
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Will Tyson Fury fight Anthony Joshua?
Alalshikh’s cryptic plans were widely thought to refer to a Fury comeback first in April before a long-awaited showdown with British rival Anthony Joshua in September.
However, Joshua’s boxing future is currently on hold after he survived a fatal car crash in Nigeria on December 29 that killed his team members and close friends Sina Ghami and Latif Ayodele.
“There is hardly any boxing talk at the moment [with Joshua],” his promoter Hearn told DAZN on January 24, having posted pictures to social media of the pair on exercise bikes. “It was good to see him. Obviously, he has a lot to get over after the tragic accident and mourn the loss of his two closest friends and integral parts of his team.
“Physically and emotionally, he’s recovering, and boxing will be a conversation probably in the coming months, maybe, rather than weeks. I know Anthony is a competitor and loves the game, but right now we’re giving him the space he needs to heal.”
Hearn added: “I feel like he will return to the sport. When the time is ready, if that time even comes again, it will come from Anthony Joshua.”
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