Tyson Fury drafts in hard-hitting sparring partner with three straight first-round KOs as comeback preparations ramp up

Tyson Fury has recruited undefeated Chinese heavyweight Yihang Yang as a sparring partner ahead of his comeback.

‘The Gypsy King’ is currently training hard out in Thailand as he gears up for a return to the ring in the first quarter of 2026.

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Fury has been working out with WBC bridgerweight champion Kevin Lerena at the ISS gym in Bangkok, which recently became a little more crowded with the addition of Yang.

Taking to Instagram on Monday, Fury uploaded a picture of the pair together, with the caption: “Great bit of sparring, January 2026.

“The Chinese towering inferno.”

The 21-year-old from Wuhan has gotten off to a perfect 4-0 start to life in the paid ranks, with all of his last three fights ending inside the opening stanza.

Yang is agile for a heavyweight and is also a switch-hitter, making him a good fit for whoever Fury ends up fighting, regardless of their stance.

Who is Tyson Fury fighting next?

At the moment, Arslanbek Makhmudov is the frontrunner to face the Mancunian in his return to the ring, although there are other names in the mix.

Providing an update on Fury’s next steps, his manager Spencer Brown told iFL TV earlier this month: “He’s had a year out, but we are maybe looking at three fights this year for him.

“He fancies fighting three times….

“Tyson will fight anybody, and he would fight the likes of Fabio Wardley.

“But you have to be realistic with Tyson; he’s been out for a year. He needs a fight to get his juices flowing first.

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“I’d love to see him go to Manchester as his first fight back in a homecoming. There are a few fights after that.

“Makhmudov is one of the fights being talked about. There are a few different options.

“But Makhmudov is one of the frontrunners. Yes, he’s an option.”

Makhmudov bounced back from defeats to Agit Kabayel and Guido Vianello to overcome Dave Allen in October at the Sheffield Arena.

The victory introduced the Russian powerhouse to the British public, while he fits the bill of a ‘tune-up’ opponent for the big opportunities that lie ahead.

Both Fabio Wardley and Anthony Joshua have been mentioned as possible opponents for the second half of the year, and Fury’s handlers won’t want to mess that up with a potential banana skin.