TYSON FURY’S COMEBACK OPPONENT REVEALED? WHY BRANDON MOORE’S NAME IS SUDDENLY TRENDING
Tyson Fury is back for 2026. With Anthony Joshua’s future uncertain after a tragic crash, Fury eyes Moore and Makhmudov. Read now.
Dmitriy Salita just put Brandon Moore’s name out there as a possible opponent for Tyson Fury’s comeback later this year.
Fury retired in January 2025 after losing twice to Oleksandr Usyk, but now he’s changed his mind.
The plan? Fury wants to ease back into the ring with a low-stakes fight early in 2026, then go for something bigger that summer.
Saudi boxing boss Turki Alalshikh wanted to finally make the Fury vs. Anthony Joshua fight happen this year. But after Joshua’s tragic car crash in Nigeria, which killed two of his close friends, Latif Ayodele and Sina Ghami, nobody’s sure if AJ will keep fighting. His uncle even told the Nigerian press last month that Joshua might walk away from boxing. If that happens, Fury still has plenty of options for his 2026 fights.
Fury’s manager says they’re looking at a busy year, maybe three fights, and there’s talk about a WBO title bout with Fabio Wardley later in the year. Right now, a crowd of heavyweights is lining up for Fury’s return, and Brandon Moore is in the mix.
Salita, who promotes Moore, told Sky Sports, “Brandon Moore is the USBA Heavyweight Champ, coming off three wins against previously undefeated guys. He’s a legit American heavyweight—6'6", somewhere between 240 and 250 pounds, big, strong, and getting better all the time. Physically, he’s got that modern heavyweight look, kind of like Anthony Joshua, but he’s his own man. He wants to test himself at the top, and facing Tyson Fury is exactly that.”
So, who’s Brandon Moore? He’s got 19 wins, 10 by knockout, and just one loss. That loss came against U.S. Olympian Richard Torrez Jr., who stopped him in five rounds back in May 2024. Since then, Moore’s racked up five wins, though mostly against domestic-level guys.
But is Moore the favourite to face Fury? Honestly, right now it looks like Russian powerhouse Arslanbek Makhmudov is ahead in the race. Fury’s manager, Spencer Brown, told iFL TV, “Tyson will fight anybody, even someone like Fabio Wardley. But look, he’s been out a year. He needs a fight to get going first.”
Brown added he’d love to see Fury’s first fight back happen in Manchester as a sort of homecoming. After that, there are plenty of options. Makhmudov’s definitely one of the top names being discussed. Brown said, “Makhmudov is one of the front-runners; yes, he’s an option.”
UNDISPUTED CHAMPION NAOYA INOUE CONFIRMS "READY STATE" AHEAD OF BLOCKBUSTER TOKYO DOME CLASH
A historic showdown: 32-0 champions Naoya Inoue and Junto Nakatani clash at the Tokyo Dome. Get the latest predictions and hype.
Everyone’s buzzing about the Naoya Inoue vs. Junto Nakatani showdown. It’s not just a big deal in Japan; it’s the kind of fight that’ll have the whole boxing world glued to their screens. They’re set to meet at the Tokyo Dome on May 2, and people are calling this the biggest fight in Japanese boxing history. You can feel the hype.
Both Inoue and Nakatani come in unbeaten, with matching records of 32–0. That alone turns this into something special. Inoue’s undisputed super bantamweight title is up for grabs, so the stakes couldn’t be higher.
Everyone’s got an opinion: fighters, experts, fans, and now the Moloney brothers from Australia have jumped in with their predictions. Jason Moloney knows what it’s like to face Inoue. Back in 2020, he shared the ring with him in Vegas and got stopped in the seventh. Jason respects Nakatani’s style; it’s awkward, rangy, and tricky to handle. He wonders how Inoue will crack that code but, honestly, he doesn’t see anyone beating Inoue right now. “As good as Nakatani is, I don’t think anyone can beat Inoue at the moment. I see Inoue winning the fight,” Jason said.
He talked about how Inoue’s just so well-rounded. Good at everything, no matter where the fight goes. Still, Jason pointed out Inoue’s willingness to trade his aggression makes him fun to watch, but it’s got him hurt in recent fights. Even so, Jason’s sticking to his prediction: Nakatani will have moments, but he’s backing Inoue.
Andrew Moloney fought Nakatani last year and went the distance. He sees Inoue as explosive ones with that snap in their movement and punches. Andrew respects Nakatani’s size, his speed, and his power but thinks Inoue’s footwork and explosiveness will be the difference. “Inoue’s explosiveness and foot speed will be the edge, closing the distance and letting go of those dynamite punches.”
Both Moloney brothers agree. Inoue’s got what it takes to win.
This fight’s not just about impressive records; it’s got two guys who’ve dominated their weight divisions. Inoue’s seen as one of the best pound-for-pound fighters right now. Nakatani’s got size, reach, and that unpredictable style, which could throw Inoue off. And since both men can finish a fight, expect real fireworks. This isn’t one to miss.
NEGOTIATIONS FOR JOSHUA VS. DEONTAY WILDER HAVE COLLAPSED; JOSHUA TARGETS FURY FOR NOVEMBER
The decade-long pursuit of Wilder vs Joshua has ended. With AJ targeting Tyson Fury, Deontay Wilder now eyes a clash with Andy Ruiz.
After nearly a decade of attempts, the prospect of Deontay Wilder facing Anthony Joshua has finally fallen apart. As chronicled by World Boxing News from start to finish, this fight just isn’t happening anymore.
Joshua’s focus is shifting. By 2026, he’s aiming for a major British showdown with Tyson Fury, which means Wilder’s chances of being his next opponent are slim. Eddie Hearn, Joshua’s promoter, has essentially dismissed the idea of Wilder as a tune-up fight, leaving Wilder out of the equation for the Londoner’s upcoming plans.
Joshua is expected to have a warm-up bout this summer before engaging in two fights against Fury. By the time Joshua is back on the scene for a world title shot, Wilder will be close to 42 years old, pushing him to look elsewhere.
That opens the door for other contenders. Moses Itauma, a fellow Brit, has stepped forward, expressing interest in facing Wilder. It’s a risky move, given Wilder's power, and some see it as a misstep for the Bronze Bomber.
More intriguing, though, is a possible showdown in the US against Andy Ruiz Jr. Talks about that fight have floated around since 2020, delayed first by the Fury-Joshua trilogy and then by contractual issues on Ruiz’s side. When negotiations were alive, financial disagreements caused a breakdown, but fan interest has remained strong. World Boxing News reported a surge in fan demand, generating millions of impressions, pushing for this matchup.
Following their recent face-off at Allegiant Stadium in September, Wilder vs. Ruiz looks like a viable path if either aims to work back toward a heavyweight title opportunity.
With Joshua out of the picture, Wilder’s next steps are under close watch. Suggestions of a rematch with Derek Chisora haven’t gained much traction. Whether he goes after an up-and-comer like Itauma or revisits the Ruiz rivalry, that choice will be critical in determining how Wilder reasserts himself in the heavyweight division.
A title shot isn’t off the table, but the next fight has to be carefully chosen to keep those chances alive.
