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Tyson Fury eyes Fabio Wardley title shot if Anthony Joshua is unavailable this year
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Tyson Fury eyes Fabio Wardley title shot if Anthony Joshua is unavailable this year
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Jan 24, 2026
Jan 24, 2026
1 min read
Tyson Fury took a break from Shorinji Kempo training Saturday to provide an update on his boxing career.
Tyson Fury took a break from Shorinji Kempo training Saturday to provide an update on his boxing career.
Fury has been actively preparing over the last month for his planned comeback and tune-up tilt following the announcement of his fifth retirement last year. He hasn't been in action since suffering back-to-back decision losses to heavyweight king Oleksandr Usyk in 2024.
Fury (34-2-1, 24 KOs) said on social media that if his long-planned fight against rival Anthony Joshua (29-4, 26 KOs) doesn't happen, he's open to taking on WBO titleholder Fabio Wardley (20-0-1, 19 KOs).
"Lets see how I am looking in my return fight, then later in 2026 [Wardley] would be a good option for me to try become a three-time heavyweight champion. Wardley has a hard fight himself coming up soon," Fury said on social media.
Wardley is coming off an 11th-round stoppage win against Joseph Parker in October but doesn't have a date or opponent announced for his first title defense. The Ring, IBF, WBA and WBC champion Usyk vacated the WBO title in November instead of facing the mandatory challenger Wardley because he was uninterested in the bout, and the sanctioning body elevated the Brit to its full beltholder.
Joshua, meanwhile, is still recovering from the trauma he endured last month when he was a passenger in a fatal car crash in Nigeria that took the lives of two of his closest friends. Joshua escaped the life-altering ordeal with minor injuries.
"I know the fight you guys all want but at this time I wont say his name out of respect as he is in mourning," Fury said in regard to Joshua. "But if he is not going to continue in boxing, I'd like Big Fab as a big test. This would also be a massive spectacle."
Wardley, who’s already stated that Fury is on his hit list, caught wind of Fury’s statements and chimed in with a comment.
"All the best for the return big [Gypsy King]. See you soon," said Wardley.
Manouk Akopyan is The Ring’s lead writer. Follow him on X and Instagram: @ManoukAkopyan.
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