Alalshikh says Tyson Fury is ending retirement: 'We have a rabbit to hunt'

Former heavyweight champion Tyson Fury is coming out of retirement and intends to return to boxing in 2026, sports promoter Turki Alalshikh announced Wednesday.

"We have a rabbit to hunt," Alalshikh added, seemingly alluding to a trilogy bout against Oleksandr Usyk.

Fury, 36, announced his retirement from boxing in January. Usyk won both their previous meetings.

"The Gypsy King" has shrugged off discussions about a possible blockbuster fight against British heavyweight Anthony Joshua, insisting he would only come out of retirement for a third bout against Usyk.

"If I was going to come back, I'd come back for Usyk, but I want a fair result in England," Fury said recently, according to Ring Magazine's Matt Penn.

The former titleholder noted that he's continued to train regularly despite stepping away from boxing.

"I've had a love-hate relationship with boxing for 25 years," Fury said. "Like all great relationships, it's got to have ups and downs, but the inevitable in my game is you make your bed, you lie in it and, yeah, I'm still very much in love with the game."

Fury (34-2-1) is among many fighters who have not been able to find a win against Usyk (23-0). Fury lost their first bout by split decision. The 38-year-old Ukrainian fighter won in more convincing fashion last December, notching a unanimous decision victory to retain the WBO, WBA, and WBC heavyweight titles.

Fury had previously retired from boxing in 2013, 2017, and 2022 before his most recent hiatus.