Former world heavyweight champion Tyson Fury announced Sunday he will return to boxing in 2026.

Fury has not fought since losing to Oleksandr Usyk in a bout for three of the four major world titles in December 2024.

But the 37-year-old British star posted on Instagram on Sunday: "2026 is that year. Return of the mac.

"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."

Fury had previously said he was retiring after beating Dillian Whyte in April 2022, only to return later that year. His history of retirement followed by reversals meant few believed his most recent claim to end a career that has brought him 34 wins in 37 fights.

He was incensed at the judges' decisions in his pair of defeats to Usyk, the only boxer to beat Fury, who said in last year's retirement message: "I'm going to end with this: Dick Turpin wore a mask."

The self-styled "Gypsy King" fueled speculation of another comeback over the festive period by posting several clips on social media of himself training.

Despite insisting he had bowed out of the sport, Fury has been repeatedly linked to a long-awaited all-British bout against Anthony Joshua, another former two-time world heavyweight champion.

The pair agreed to a fight in August 2021 when they held all the major world titles between them, but it was scuttled when Fury was ordered to face Deontay Wilder for a third time following an arbitration ruling.

Plans were in the works for tune-up fights early this year before a potential clash later in 2026.

However, a car crash in Nigeria on Monday left Joshua injured and killed two close friends and team members, likely delaying any fight for the 36-year-old.

If Joshua is unavailable, Fury could pursue a trilogy bout with WBC, WBA, and IBF titlist Usyk or a fight with WBO champion Fabio Wardley. A win over either would make Fury a three-time world heavyweight champion, joining Muhammad Ali.