Tyson Fury has responded to rumors regarding an imminent return by insisting he is “retired and staying retired.”

A series of recent posts on social media have hinted that the two-time world heavyweight champion could be on the verge of a comeback.

First he uploaded a video of him in the gym alongside his trainer Sugar Hill Steward. Then he announced that he had a successful “business meeting” with his manager, Spencer Brown, and his dad, John.

Brown even recently confirmed that Fury, who looks to be close to his fighting weight, has bought a new pair of boxing boots and shorts, further intensifying speculation.

The 36-year-old Fury has not boxed since back-to-back points defeats to Oleksandr Usyk in 2024, which were the first losses of his stellar heavyweight career. But the recent social media output had provided hope that the long-awaited battle of Britain with Londoner Anthony Joshua could yet take place.

Now, however, Fury has yet again poured cold water on that speculation by declaring that he has nothing to return to boxing to accomplish.

During a holiday to Lake Como, Italy, he said on Instagram: “I hear a lot of talk about the Gypsy King returning to boxing and I ask the question, ‘For what?’ What would I return for? More boxing belts? I won 22 of them. I’m happy and contented about what I’ve done and what I’ve achieved, what I’ve accomplished.

“I’ve been around the world and back again and here we are – this is what retirement looks like for the Gypsy King. Not too shabby. I’m in no rush at all to come back boxing and get my face punched in. For what? What would I return for? Here we are, I’m retired and I’m staying retired. I’ve got nothing to prove to anybody and nothing to return for.”

The Morecambe man retired back in January with a record of 34-2-1, including 24 knockouts. Ukraine’s Usyk (23-0, 14 KOs) claimed Fury’s WBC title in their first encounter to become undisputed heavyweight champion.

A trilogy fight between the pair has also been suggested, but Fury’s update appears to put a line through that, too.