Tyson Fury has been called out to a world title fight just days after announcing his boxing comeback.
Fury made his latest retirement u-turn on Sunday, having called time on his legendary career after losing to Oleksandr Usyk in December 2024.
He failed to re-capture the WBC, WBO and WBA (super) world heavyweight titles, losing on points to Usyk, who made it back-to-back wins over the Briton following his victory in their undisputed clash in May 2024.
But after sitting out the entirety of 2025, Fury plans to return to the sport this year as he released a training video ahead of his comeback.
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A tune-up fight in the first half of 2026 is expected ahead of a potential showdown against Anthony Joshua, whose career is thought to be in the balance after he was involved in a fatal crash that killed two of his close friends.
Fury, however, could still be involved in an all-British battle after Fabio Wardley challenged him to a world title bout.
Wardley captured the interim WBO world heavyweight title following his big stoppage victory over Joseph Parker in October but was elevated to full champion status after Usyk vacated the WBO belt.
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And he's hoping to make the first defence of his WBO championship against the self-proclaimed 'Gypsy King', saying he's 'extremely keen' to face his fellow countryman in the ring.
"It was good [to be named on Tyson Fury's hit list] because he was already on mine. It makes no difference to me," he told Sky Sports.
"Look, it's something I'd be really keen for because I'm not shying away from big fights. I haven't got a world title just to take easy fights and hold onto it, and hide away with it."
Wardley, who is unbeaten in 21 professional fights, added: "I'm not going to run off with my belt and not offer it out to anyone. The biggest names out there are the guys I want to be in fights with.
"I think being open [to negotiations] might be a bit of an understatement. I'd be extremely keen to see if he's genuine about it or not.
"He may be looking at it like it might be an easy touch for him to roll out of retirement, come into a fight, pick up a world title and go on to bigger things, but as fighters of late have found out, I'm quite the banana skin.
"I'd back myself against anyone in this division. That much has been proven about me.
"No matter the fighter, the occasion, the night, the event, or even how the fight in itself is going, I'm always in there with a chance. I'm not going to give up until I hear that final bell."
Wardley's call-out quickly got to Fury, who responded to his rival's comments.
"Let’s see how I look & get on in mry [sic] return," he wrote on his Instagram story.
Fury will be aiming to become a world champion again, having previously held the unified titles when he beat Wladimir Klitschko.
He also claimed the WBC title following his victory over Deontay Wilder.
Topics: Tyson Fury, Boxing
Nasir Jabbar