Tyson Fury retired from boxing for the fifth time in January, but a fellow British boxing legend has given his take on whether the former world heavyweight champion will return
Former cruiserweight world champion Johnny Nelson has said Tyson Fury will “without a doubt” launch another boxing comeback. ‘The Gypsy King’ retired for a fifth time in January after consecutive defeats by Oleksandr Usyk but is already being linked with a 2026 return.
Fury himself has teed up a potential trilogy bout against Usyk for next April. However, the Ukrainian must first navigate a heavyweight unification rematch against Daniel Dubois at Wembley on Saturday.
Nelson, 58, held the WBO cruiserweight title from 1999 to 2006 – still a record today – and knows all too well the temptation to overstay one’s welcome. He believes Fury will succumb to the “addiction” that has seen him return from retirement four times already.
“Without a doubt. I think any fighter, I think I’d say 95 per cent of fighters still think, they’ve got a little burning desire down inside that they want to fight again,” he told Mirror Sport, via NewBettingSites.uk. “Tyson Fury’s not retired. He’s not gone anywhere. So when they say he’s back – he hasn’t gone anywhere. He’s just been on a break.
“And it’s hard for fighters to fight anyway. You’ve got to be a bit crazy. We’ve all got to, there’s got to be something wrong with wanting to get in the ring and actually hit another human being.”
It’s all but certain Fury will not fight in 2025, and Queensberry promoter Frank Warren recently confirmed as much on the 5 Live Boxing Podcast. However, he also made it clear the Wythenshaw fighter is keen to get his redemption arc against Usyk, even if Amir Khan thinks Fury’s days in the ring are truly over.
A third showdown against ‘The Cat’ is by no means confirmed, and Usyk has called Fury “crazy” for touting the trilogy clash. Anthony Joshua is another potential opponent fans have longed to see Fury face, and though that date would generate huge numbers, it would come with the caveat that no titles would be at stake.
Nelson sympathised with Fury’s plight but said, “Our body and our brain age differently,” a nod to the role overconfidence can play in the twilight of one’s career. In that sense, he suggested there’s an art to gracefully bow out of the sport.
“It’s having that discipline to say, ‘No, I’m done,'” he continued. “And, you know, if you’re fortunate enough to be in a financially safe situation, then it’s easy to walk away from that addiction. But if you aren’t financially safe and still have that addiction, God help you. God help you.
“Listen, ‘The Greatest’ did it, Muhammad Ali did it, you know, when he should have walked away. Evander Holyfield did it when he should have walked away. Roy Jones did it when he should have walked away. So it’s an addiction. It’s a true addiction. And as I said, you mentioned Tyson Fury. I don’t think he’ll walk away.”
‘The Entertainer’ retired at the top of his game and on the back of a 21-fight undefeated streak. His 13 consecutive defences of the WBO crown remain a cruiserweight joint-record, and he holds the rare distinction of having never lost the belt in the ring.
The same can’t be said for Fury, who gave up the WBC heavyweight belt in his first fight with Usyk before suffering another unanimous-decision defeat in their rematch. Yet despite the fact that many feel their rivalry is written conclusively in Usyk’s favour, Fury’s pride seemingly won’t allow him to let go.
The Gypsy King is sure to have a close eye on proceedings at Wembley this weekend as IBF champion Dubois looks to do what he could not and unify the belts. Fury has also commented on the potential for a fight with ‘Dynamite’, who shares history with his fellow Queensberry boxer after an impromptu sparring session some years ago.
Watch Usyk vs Dubois 2 live on DAZN
Oleksandr Usyk and Daniel Dubois will fight to become the undisputed heavyweight champion on Saturday, July 19.
Fans can order the fight on DAZN PPV for £24.99 or get it free with a DAZN Annual plan.
