Former heavyweight boxing champion Tyson Fury has revealed that a tragic car accident involving close friends of his long-time rival. Anthony Joshua, played a key role in his decision to return to the ring.
Tyson Fury set to make his comeback on April 11, after 15 months away from boxing. He will face Russian-born heavyweight Arslanbek Makhmudov at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium.
The 37-year-old had previously announced his retirement following back-to-back losses to Oleksandr Usyk at the end of 2024. After spending a year out of the sport, Fury confirmed his return on January 4.
His decision came shortly after a car accident in Nigeria in December. Which tragically claimed the lives of two of Joshua’s close friends, Sina Ghami and Latif Ayodele.
Speaking on Monday, Tyson Fury explained how the tragedy changed his outlook on life.
“Tomorrow might never come,” Fury said. “The biggest turning point for me was the tragedy involving Anthony Joshua. It made me realize you should never put things off. Whether it’s tomorrow, next week, or next year—because tomorrow isn’t guaranteed.”
Plans for a highly anticipate fight between Fury and Joshua in 2026 have since canceled. Fury, a former two-time world heavyweight champion, also share that his return driven by a desire to reignite excitement in the sport.
“I came back for one reason only — to make boxing great again,” Fury said. “Since I retired for the fifth time over a year ago, boxing has been on a downward slope. It’s become boring, and I’m here to change that.”
