(Photo credit: Joe Camporeale-Imagn Images)

Nearly one year to the day of his latest retirement announcement, former world heavyweight champion Tyson Fury has declared his return to the ring.

On Sunday, the two-time world heavyweight champion, who has not fought since losing to Ukraine's Oleksandr Usyk in December 2024, posted on Instagram that the 'return of the mac' is happening in 2026: 'Been away for a while but I'm back now, 37 years old and still punching. Nothing better to do than punch men in the face and get paid for it.'

In April 2022, Fury -- 34-2 with one draw as a pro -- said he was calling it quits following a victory over Dillian Whyte, but unretired later that year.

Fury often has been linked to fellow former two-time world heavyweight champion Anthony Joshua in a highly anticipated all-British bout. They agreed to step into the ring in August 2021, when the pair held all of the major world titles between them. However, that fight never materialized after an arbitration hearing ordered Fury to oppose Deonte Wilder for a third time.

Plans reportedly have been in the works for Fury and Joshua, 36, to face off late this summer or near the end of the year. Those could be in jeopardy because Joshua was injured in an automobile accident Monday in Nigeria that claimed the lives of two of his close friends.

An alternative match for Fury could be a third showdown against Usyk, who holds the WBC, WBA and IBF titles, or a bout with WBO champion Fabio Wardley of Great Britain.

If Fury were to beat either of those fighters, he would join the legendary Muhammad Ali as a world heavyweight title-holder for a third time.

--Field Level Media