THE GYPSY KING RETURNS: WHY TYSON FURY IS TRAINING IN THAILAND FOR 2026
Tyson Fury is back: As the Gypsy King prepares for 2026, USBA champ Brandon Moore and Arslanbek Makhmudov emerge as top opponents.
Tyson Fury just got offered a comeback fight against Brandon Moore, a guy who used to crunch numbers as an accountant and play basketball before turning to boxing.
Fury walked away from the sport last January after losing twice in a row to his old rival, Oleksandr Usyk. But six months later, he changed his mind—big time. Now, the ‘Gipsy King’ says he wants to fight again in 2026.
He’s 37 now, and lately he’s been training hard in Thailand with fellow boxer Kevin Lerena. Fury keeps saying this comeback isn’t about the pay cheque—it’s about his love for boxing.
He can’t wait to step back in the ring before April ends. There’s talk of a huge summer fight against a big name. A bunch of potential opponents have popped up, and now we’ve got Brandon Moore in the mix. Moore’s promoter, Dmitriy Salita, is pushing to get talks going.
“Brandon Moore is the USBA Heavyweight Champ, coming off three straight wins against undefeated fighters,” Salita told Sky Sports. “He’s a real American heavyweight—6’6”, 240-250 pounds, strong, and getting better every fight. Physically, he’s built like Anthony Joshua, but he’s his own man. He wants to prove himself at the top, and fighting Fury is exactly that.”
Moore’s 31, and honestly, he’s done a bit of everything. He grew up in a family packed with athletes—five brothers, all of whom played sports in college or even professionally. His younger brother, Shaq Moore, plays pro soccer for FC Dallas and has over 20 caps for the US national team. Shaq even scored the fastest goal in Gold Cup history—just 20 seconds in against Canada.
Brandon’s road to boxing wasn’t exactly straight. He played basketball for two years at Southeastern University in Florida, then transferred to Cardinal Stritch University in Milwaukee and got a degree in accounting and finance in 2016. Two years later, he stepped into a boxing gym for the first time and never looked back. By 2019, he had quit his accounting job and gone all-in on boxing.
He moved up the ranks fast after going pro in 2020. His record stands at 19-1, with 10 knockouts. The only loss came to Richard Torrez Jr, who’s still undefeated.
Moore’s definitely a name to watch, but there’s another contender in the picture—Arslanbek Makhmudov. People have been talking about the Russian heavyweight lately, and he might just get the nod for Fury’s tune-up fight. Last time out, Makhmudov beat veteran David Allen on points back in October.
Fury’s promoter, Frank Warren, had this to say to Box Nation when asked about the possible matchup: “He’s a very smart guy. He knows what he wants and how to get there. Sure, we’re talking about opponents and all that, but he’s no fool… he knows the score. Maybe we can go with Makhmudov. We’ll see.”
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.
