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Will Fury deliver Joshua promise on three-fight slate for 2026?
Tyson Fury has laid out a roadmap for his return to the ring, starting with this weekend's bout against Arslanbek Makhmudov.
'The Gypsy King' reversed his decision to retire in January, and is back on the hunt for the biggest prizes over the coming year.
That includes a fight with domestic rival Anthony Joshua, long considered a white-whale super-bout in the heavyweight division.
Such a clash seems more likely than ever, with Fury citing a dance with his fellow Briton as part of his motivation to return again.
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Nevertheless, the star has now revealed his hopes to fight three times before 2026 is out - a remarkably busy figure for the star.
One will be with Makhmudov, and another perhaps with Joshua - but can Fury really deliver on his promise and take so many bouts?
Here, DAZN News explores just what the year may hold for the star with his dreams - and why they may fail to materialise too.
What has Fury outlined in his plans for 2026?
Speaking on Inside the Ring on Monday night, Fury stated that he was "aiming for three fights this year", including with his rival.
"Obviously, I have this big fight in front of me in Makhmudov," he said. "Then we don't know what the third fight might be after Joshua.
"If it's a good fight with me and 'AJ' - I don't think it will be, I think it will be a blow-away - then we will have a rematch. If not, we will see."
Fury is almost as known for his hyperbolic statements as he is for his hyper-heavy punches, but here, the star seems keenly focused.
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His bout with Makhmudov is a tune-up to shake off the ring rust by nearly all definition, leading into the big fish that is Joshua next up.
A third bout would then allow the star to add yet another lucrative payday to his resume as he confirms his return as a premier player.
Much will depend on opponents and injuries of course - Makhmudov, to be polite, is several levels below Fury in terms of recognition.
But plans for a busy 2026 seem to - for the moment - fall in line with the image of a man who admits "fighting is all I've ever known".
Will Fury and Joshua actually meet in 2026?
This is the ultimate kicker. Rumours of Fury's return from retirement throughout 2025 nearly always came tied to talk of a Joshua bout.
The latter's own absence as he recovered from injury appeared to suggest the stars might finally align for them to cross paths for good.
Even Joshua's choice to take a short-notice bout with Jake Paul did not dampen expectations he would meet Fury in a mid-2026 clash.
But the tragic accident that robbed the former of two close friends and team-members shortly before the new year reframed his future.
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Joshua is back in training, aided by old rival Oleksandr Usyk - the only man to defeat Fury, not once but twice, in their 2024 duology.
It seems unlikely he will rush back however, and will surely want a tune-up of his own. July appears to be the mooted date for that.
If it comes to pass, then a Fury-Joshua bout could be set for November or December, likely in a British stadium or perhaps overseas.
But there are several variables in play here. For now, hope springs eternal - but it will take some major moves to secure a 2026 clash.
Can Fury actually fight three times in 2026?
Ultimately, whether Fury gets Joshua or not this year, the bigger question is whether 'The Gypsy King' can go around three times at all.
Not since 2018, when he embarked on the comeback trail again, has the Briton fought bouts as many times in a single calendar year.
Back then, he took a similar route to the one planned here- a tune-up with Sefer Seferi, before ex-title challenger Francesco Pianeta.
A points win over the latter teed up Fury's first bout with Deontay Wilder, but since then, it has been rare to see him with such regularity.
Of course, an April bout with Makhmudov ensures a four-month turnaround for each fight. August and December would give breathers.
But as he pushes on in years, the question remains as to whether so many camps and fights in succession may do more harm than help.
Then there's the opponents too. Joshua is priority one. Usyk would take a trilogy, but wishes to reunify all four heavyweight belts again.
Options will abound for Fury to take. But if he hopes to tick off all of his ambitions alone in 2026, he best hope everyone else has their diaries in order.
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