Tyson Fury has made a stunning return to The Ring Magazine’s heavyweight rankings, claiming the number one spot despite announcing his retirement from boxing just last month.
The 36-year-old ‘Gypsy King’ had been removed from all rankings after proclaiming his fifth retirement in January following consecutive defeats to Oleksandr Usyk.
His unexpected reappearance in the prestigious rankings suggests boxing insiders remain unconvinced by Fury’s decision to hang up his gloves.
The development comes amid growing speculation about a potential super-fight with Anthony Joshua that would captivate British boxing fans.
Tyson Fury has been named the No.1 heavyweight in The Ring heavyweight rankings
Reuters
Fury’s top ranking places him behind only unified champion Usyk, who holds the WBC, WBA and WBO titles and is recognised as The Ring’s heavyweight champion.
The Wythenshawe warrior sits ahead of IBF champion Daniel Dubois and the resurgent Joseph Parker, who occupy the second and third spots respectively.
Meanwhile, Anthony Joshua has received a significant boost, climbing two places from seventh to fifth despite not having fought since his knockout defeat to Dubois at Wembley Stadium in September.
Joshua’s rise comes following losses suffered by Zhilei Zhang and Martin Bakole on the Artur Beterbiev vs Dmitry Bivol II undercard in Saudi Arabia last weekend.
Saudi boxing supremo Turki Alalshikh has expressed keen interest in luring Fury back to the ring for a long-awaited showdown with Joshua.
Speaking to The Stomping Ground, Alalshikh revealed: “I want Tyson [next for Joshua]. I spoke with him, but I don’t talk about boxing.”
The Saudi powerbroker maintained he merely checked on Fury’s wellbeing during their conversation.
“I just check about his health and his family. I think maybe he’ll return. Yes, [I think he will return], I hope so,” he added.
Fury has remained tight-lipped on the prospect of a comeback since his retirement announcement in a brief social media video.
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Tyson Fury retired after a double-loss to Oleksandr Usyk
Reuters
Joshua, however, has been vocal about his desire to face his long-time rival.
“I feel like it’s the best fight [for me],” Joshua told iFL TV. “People might say Parker, people might say – I don’t know.
“I think Fury, commercially, is a great fight and it’s a great man’s fight as well. So I think it makes sense.
“There is going to be one winner and one loser. And there’s going to be blood shed. And it ain’t gonna be mine”.
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Anthony Joshua is desperate to fight Tyson Fury
PA
Should Fury decide to return, a blockbuster clash with Joshua would undoubtedly be the biggest in British boxing history.
The potential super-fight has been years in the making, with both fighters’ careers taking unexpected turns.
Despite Fury’s insistence on retirement, his continued presence in The Ring’s rankings suggests the boxing world expects to see him lace up the gloves once more.
A Fury-Joshua showdown would represent a defining moment for both fighters’ legacies, regardless of the outcome.