Tyson Fury says Anthony Joshua car crash influenced his return to boxing

Fury will box Arslanbek Makhmudov in April, as the Briton emerges from retirement for the fifth time SportBoxingTyson Fury says Anthony Joshua car crash influenced his return to boxingFury will box Arslanbek Makhmudov in April, as the Briton emerges from retirement for the fifth timeAlex Pattle Tottenham Hotspur Stadium Monday 16 February 2026 18:43 GMTBookmarkCommentsGo to commentsBookmark popoverRemoved from bookmarksClose popoverTyson Fury launches comeback fight against Arslanbek MakhmudovYour support helps us to tell the storyRead moreSupport NowFrom reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. 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We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.Your support makes all the difference.Read moreTyson Fury has claimed that Anthony Joshua’s car crash played a key role in his decision to return to boxing, as Fury prepares to emerge from retirement for the fifth time.On 11 April, Fury will fight Arslanbek Makhmudov at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, marking the “Gypsy King”’s first bout since December 2024. And, according to Fury, he made the decision to return to boxing in December, with Joshua’s involvement in a car crash influencing the move. Just days after Joshua knocked out influencer Jake Paul in their fight in Miami, “AJ” was a passenger in a crash in Nigeria, an incident that took the lives of two of his teammates. While Joshua’s boxing future is up in the air, his British rival Fury announced his comeback a few weeks after the crash. RecommendedTyson Fury’s comeback was inevitable – but brings a major twistLeigh Wood, Josh Warrington, and the importance of genuine nastiness in boxingOleksandr Usyk given ultimatum over voluntary title defence: ‘Interim champion next’And at a press conference on Monday, Fury cited “a tragedy that happened with Anthony Joshua”.“I was on holiday with my family in Thailand for Christmas, just to get away from the rain – sick of the rain, it was depressing me,” said the 37-year-old. “Then I hear all that bad news that’s gone on, and I thought: ‘You know what, life is very, very short and very precious and very fragile.’open image in galleryTyson Fury (right), pictured with his father John, at a press conference for his latest return to boxing (Getty)“And anything could happen at any given moment, and you should never put things off until tomorrow or next year or next week, because tomorrow is not promised to nobody. The bible says tomorrow is not a gift, tomorrow ain’t promised, tomorrow is a mystery.“So we have to live for today, and me, living for that day, I made my mind up there and then that I’m gonna come back to boxing – because it’s something that I love and that I’m passionate about and that I’ve always been in love with.“And there is no tomorrow to put it off to, so that’s why I’m back today: for this big fight.”Fury has not fought since he was beaten by Oleksandr Usyk for the second time in eight months, and he aims to bounce back when he takes on Russia’s Makhmudov, 36.open image in galleryAnthony Joshua addressing his fans in a video filmed after his December car crash (Anthony Joshua)Prior to his two fights with Usyk, Fury had never before lost as a professional. The Briton is a former two-time world heavyweight champion, and he has said a third reign is one of his goals as he returns to boxing once again.Enjoy 185+ fights a year on DAZN, the Global Home of BoxingNever miss a fight from top promoters. Watch on your devices anywhere, anytime.Buy NowADVERTISEMENT. If you sign up to this service we will earn commission. This revenue helps to fund journalism across The Independent.Enjoy 185+ fights a year on DAZN, the Global Home of BoxingNever miss a fight from top promoters. Watch on your devices anywhere, anytime.Buy NowADVERTISEMENT. If you sign up to this service we will earn commission. This revenue helps to fund journalism across The Independent.There were rumours of a Fury comeback even before Joshua’s crash, and it seemed that a long-awaited clash between the Britons could even take place in 2026.However, Joshua’s crash has left his in-ring future unclear. Still, his promoter Eddie Hearn has said he expects AJ to box again someday.More aboutTyson FuryArslanbek MakhmudovNetflixJoin our commenting forumJoin thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their repliesCommentsMost popularPopular vid