ARSLANBEK MAKHMUDOV EMERGES AS FRONTRUNNER FOR TYSON FURY’S SUMMER RETURN
Tyson Fury is back! The "Gypsy King" confirms his 2026 return from Thailand, firing back at body shamers and eyeing Makhmudov.
Tyson Fury wants back in the ring—and soon. He’s aiming to fight again within the next three months.
Earlier this year, Fury said he was done with boxing after back-to-back losses to Oleksandr Usyk. But just six months later, he flipped the script and announced he’s coming back, eyeing a fight in 2026. Fans were caught off guard, but honestly, that’s classic Fury.
Right now, he’s in Thailand, grinding away in training. He’s even been working out with Kevin Lerena, the current WBC bridgerweight champ. As Fury ramps up for his return, critics on social media haven’t held back, taking shots at his physique every chance they get.
But Fury isn’t the type to ignore the noise. He jumped on Instagram Friday morning to talk about his comeback—and to fire back at the haters. “Real talk. I’m dead serious about coming back. I’m the uncrowned king. 2026 is the return of the MAC,” he posted. Then he added, “Just chilling before my second session today.”
He’s not taking this lightly. “I’ve seen the comments. People are saying I look big, chubby, and fat. Welcome to my world. I’ve always had a belly. Beat everyone with it. Never made a difference before, so why should it now?” he said, brushing off the trolls. “I’m at about 20 stone right now; maybe I’ll drop under 19 for the comeback. I feel loose, fast, and excited. It’s been a while, but I’m back. Took a year off, and if I fight in the first quarter, I’ll have been out nearly 16 months. That’s a long break for a 37-year-old—turning 38 this year. Let’s see if I’ve still got it.”
With Saudi boxing chief Turki Alalshikh making waves in the sport, people started speculating about Fury’s motives. He set the record straight in another post, saying money isn’t what’s driving him. “I’ve won everything—regional belts, world titles, Fighter of the Year twice, Ring Magazine twice, WBC, you name it. There’s nothing left for me except the fight itself. I love this sport. Money’s not it, though I still want a good deal. It’s about the love of boxing. I’m almost 38, older than dirt, but fighting is all I care about. I’ve got no other interests.”
He didn’t stop there. “I was born to fight. It’s my destiny. At the end of it, I’ll probably end up in a wheelchair like the rest, not knowing what day it is, but that’s the life I chose. We’re not stopping. We’re not leaving.”
Now, Fury’s gearing up for a comeback fight this summer. Arslanbek Makhmudov, the 6’6” heavyweight who last fought David Allen in October, looks like a real possibility for his opponent. Frank Warren, Fury’s promoter, seems on board. Talking to Box Nation, he said, “Tyson’s smart. He knows what he wants and how to get there. We’re discussing opponents, but he knows exactly what’s up. Maybe we’ll do the Makhmudov fight.”
THE TOP FIVE: WHY EMANUEL NAVARRETE CONSIDERS "SUGAR" NúñEZ HIS MOST DANGEROUS THREAT YET
Unification is here: Discover why Emanuel Navarrete respects Eduardo "Sugar" Nunez and how to watch the Glendale title war live.
Emanuel Navarrete didn’t hold back this week. He made it clear that Eduardo “Sugar” Núñez isn’t just another unification opponent. With their WBO-IBF super featherweight title fight coming up Saturday night, Navarrete put Núñez in his personal top five toughest opponents. That’s a big compliment, especially from a guy who’s seen pretty much everything in the ring.
During Matchroom’s “Cards on the Table", Navarrete looked Núñez in the eye and said, “Of the five toughest opponents I’ve faced, without a doubt I consider you among them.” For a three-division champ, words like that feel loaded. Maybe he’s playing mind games. Or maybe he just respects what Núñez brings. Either way, it stands out, especially since people have been questioning Navarrete’s recent performances.
Núñez’s record looks scary: 29 wins, just one loss, and 27 knockouts. But if you look closer, things get complicated. He beat Christopher Díaz in Mexico, but that fight dragged into a twelve-round decision. Núñez couldn’t finish strong; his power faded late, and a lot of folks thought Díaz deserved a closer scorecard.
Even so, Eddie Hearn has been hyping up Núñez all week, framing him as the fresher, sharper champion in this matchup.
Meanwhile, Navarrete comes in with some baggage. His last fight against Charly Suarez got messy. The ref gave Navarrete a technical decision win, but then video replay showed Suarez caused a nasty cut with a left hook, not a head clash. The result switched to a no-contest, and the California commission ordered a rematch that never happened. That whole episode left a bad taste, and it exposed some holes in Navarrete’s defence. Now, people wonder if he can handle a disciplined, hard-hitting counter-puncher like Núñez.
Fighting in Glendale, Arizona, adds its own twist. The Mexican fan base always shows up big here, but with both guys hailing from Mexico, there’s no clear home advantage. This time, it’s all about national pride and those belts. The stakes go way beyond just the physical fight; there’s an emotional edge, too.
When two Mexican fighters square off, there’s this silent expectation: give the fans a war. Nobody wants to be the guy playing it safe or backing up all night, not with that crowd watching. It usually means both men take risks they wouldn’t take against anyone else.
Navarrete’s got the legacy, the belts, and the experience. Núñez is the hungry IBF champ looking to make his mark. In Mexican boxing, these moments when one star tries to take the torch from another tend to become legends. Just think Barrera vs. Morales. That’s the kind of fight on the table here, and both guys know what’s at stake.
UNFINISHED BUSINESS: DECODING MANNY PACQUIAO’S 11-YEAR PLAN TO AVENGE HIS 2015 CAREER LOSS
Is the 50-0 streak over? Analyse Pacquiao’s recent form, Mayweather’s return, and the high-tech battle at The Sphere.
On September 19, 2026, Floyd Mayweather, now 49, and Manny Pacquiao, 47, will finally face off again. It’s been 11 years since their first fight, and this time they’re stepping into the ring at The Sphere in Las Vegas. Netflix will stream the event live, making it one of the most anticipated comebacks in recent boxing history.
Back in May 2015, Mayweather walked away from “The Fight of the Century” with a unanimous decision win. Since then, he’s only had one big match, a 2017 win over UFC’s Conor McGregor. Pacquiao, on the other hand, fought most recently in 2025. He went toe-to-toe with Mario Barrios, the WBC World Welterweight champ, and managed a draw. People were amazed to see Pacquiao, at 46, still holding his own.
Now, Pacquiao’s got unfinished business. He’s fired up to rewrite the story in this rematch.
When ESPN’s SportsCenter asked Pacquiao why now, he didn’t hesitate. “I’m still active in boxing, and then he came out of retirement, so he decided to do it again. I’m so excited for the fight.”
Mayweather has an exhibition lined up against Mike Tyson in spring 2026. Pacquiao is fighting Ruslan Provodnikov in April, also an exhibition. But when it comes to Mayweather, Pacquiao’s not interested in another exhibition match. “I don’t want to fight in an exhibition with him. I want to fight a real fight. This is what I’m waiting for.”
Pacquiao’s not making excuses this time around. After the first fight, he talked about a shoulder injury, but that’s in the past. “I learned a lot from that fight way back in 2015. I think we’ve both matured. We know how to handle it now. I hope it won’t be like last time. I want no more excuses, especially about my condition. I’m so excited and ready to fight.”
Even at 47, Pacquiao feels sharp. “Both of us are disciplined fighters. We take care of our bodies. I work out almost every day. Honestly, I still feel young. Nothing’s changed.”
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