The former two-time heavyweight champion is expected to make his return to action this year despite announcing his retirement from the sport last January
Tyson Fury has been offered a comeback fight against former accountant and basketball player-turned-boxer Brandon Moore.
The former two-time heavyweight champion retired from boxing last January following back-to-back defeats to long-time rival Oleksandr Usyk. Six months after his decision, though, the ‘Gypsy King’ performed a major U-turn and expressed his desire to fight in 2026.
Fury, 37, has spent the last few weeks training in Thailand alongside fellow boxer Kevin Lerena, honing in on his skills ahead of yet another return. The Morecambe scrapper insists he is making a comeback for the love of the sport – and not for money.
He is itching to fight before the end of April ahead of a potential blockbuster summer showdown with a big name. Several names have emerged in recent weeks, and now Moore has been name-dropped for a possible clash with the ‘Gypsy King.’ The American’s promoter, Dmitriy Salita, is eager to hold negotiations over a fight.
“Brandon Moore is the reigning USBA Heavyweight Champion and is coming off three straight victories over previously undefeated fighters,” Salita told Sky Sports. “He’s a legitimate American heavyweight, 6’6” tall, 240 to 250lbs, big, strong and continuing to improve.
“From a physical standpoint, he reflects the modern heavyweight profile associated with Anthony Joshua while very much being his own fighter. This is someone who wants to test himself at the highest level, and facing Tyson Fury represents exactly that.”
Moore, 31, has certainly been around the block over the years, and is part of a competitive family – full of athletes. He and his five brothers all went on to play their respective sports collegiately or professionally. His younger brother, Shaq Moore, is a footballer who currently plays for MLS outfit FC Dallas. The full back – who has made over 20 appearances for the national team – made history after he scored the fastest goal in Gold Cup history, when he netted for the USA in just 20 seconds against rivals Canada five years ago.
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As for Brandon, the heavyweight boxer played basketball at Southeastern University for two seasons in Lakeland, Florida, before eventually transferring to Cardinal Stritch University in Milwaukee, where he obtained a degree in accounting and finance in 2016. Two years later, he walked into the Winter Haven Boxing for the first time, and has not looked back since. In 2019, he quit his accounting job to pursue a career in boxing.
The 31-year-old was quick to rise up the regional ranks after making his professional debut in 2020. With a record of 19-1 – 10 KOs – the boxer’s sole defeat in the ring came at the hands of undefeated star Richard Torrez Jr last year.
Moore’s name is certainly one to keep an eye on, but Arslanbek Makhmudov seems to be leading the way. The Russian fighter’s name has been floated around these past few days, and the heavyweight behemoth has emerged as a possible contender for Fury’s tune-up fight in the coming months. The 6’6 giant’s last appearance came in a decision win over boxing veteran David Allen back in October.
When asked about a possible match-up between the pair, Fury’s promoter, Frank Warren, revealed to Box Nation: “He’s a very intelligent guy. He knows what he wants to do and how to get there. Of course there’s a discussion over opponents and so forth, but he’s not stupid… he knows what he’s got to do. Maybe, we may do that [Makhmudov fight].”
