Tyson Fury explains why Anthony Joshua car crash was inspiration for boxing comeback

Tyson Fury has cited Anthony Joshua’s involvement in a tragic car crash as inspiration for his boxing return.

Fury faces Arslanbek Makhmudov at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium on April 11, which comes 16 months after his second defeat to Oleksandr Usyk.

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‘The Gypsy King’ announced his return to the ring in January, a year after he said he was retiring following back-to-back losses to Usyk.

Fury was handed his first career defeat by the Ukrainian WBA, WBC and IBF heavyweight champion in May 2024 and failed to bounce back in their rematch seven months later, losing both on points.

But the 37-year-old is back and ready to take the boxing world by storm once again.

In typical Fury fashion, ‘The Gypsy King’ took centre stage at the kick-off press conference for his fight with Russia’s Makhmudov, and he was asked why he decided to return.

Tyson Fury plans to ‘make boxing great again’

“I came back for one reason only, and that’s to make boxing great again,” Fury said.

“Since I retired for the fifth time over a year ago, boxing for me has gone on a downward slope.

“It’s become quite boring, and boxing has its maximum potential when Tyson Fury is actively fighting.”

Fury then explained how Joshua’s tragic motor accident in Nigeria, which happened only ten days after the British boxer defeated Jake Paul, ultimately prompted his return.

In December, Joshua was hospitalised and sadly lost two of his best friends and teammates, Sina Ghami and Latif Ayodele, when the SUV he was travelling in crashed into a truck outside of Nigerian capital Lagos.

For Fury, that was a sign not to take life for granted, as he described why the awful accident instantly made up his mind about a return.

Why Anthony Joshua was an inspiration to Fury

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“The biggest turning point in this comeback for me was a tragedy that happened with Anthony Joshua,” Fury added.

“I was on holiday with my family in Thailand for Christmas, just to get away from the rain. I was sick of the rain; it was depressing me.

“Then I heard all the bad news that had gone on, and I thought, ‘Life is very short, precious and fragile.’

“And anything could happen at any given moment, and you should never put things off until tomorrow, or next week, or next year.

“Because tomorrow is not promised to anybody, the Bible says tomorrow is not a gift – tomorrow is not 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 going to come back to boxing.

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“Because it’s something that I love and 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’s last win came against former UFC heavyweight champion Francis Ngannou in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, in October 2023.

The victory over Ngannou came ten months after Fury stopped Derek Chisora in their London trilogy bout.

Fury’s manager, Spencer Brown, promised a rejuvenated Fury at the London press conference and said it’s a matter of when, not if, his man becomes a three-time heavyweight champion.

Frank Warren, founder of Queensberry Promotions, described Fury as a ‘phenomenon’ and the best heavyweight of his generation with ‘so much still to give and prove.’

He said he never discussed fighting with Fury, and it was entirely the heavyweight’s decision to make a comeback.

Warren added that he’d love to see Fury face Usyk for the third time, as well as take on the winner of Fabio Wardley vs Daniel Dubois.

Fury: I’ll get the decision if I fight Usyk again

Fury, who is training in Thailand for his fight with Makhmudov, is eyeing up a trilogy with Usyk down the line, as he believes he will get his arm raised at the third time of asking.

“I’ve got a lot more to offer, and there’s a lot of big fights out there that I know I can win,” Fury said, speaking to Lennox Lewis on the Netflix broadcast after the press conference.

“I know I can beat this guy, and I know I can beat other heavyweight champions in this division.

“If we get a fight with Usyk again, I know I’ll get the decision this time… I’d like to think I’ll go on for a long time, who knows.”

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Fury predicts he will finish Makhmudov via KO in the sixth round, and Usyk will come ‘begging’ for a fight due to the monetary value his name holds.

Makhmudov, who has stopped 19 of his 21 professional wins by knockout, scored a unanimous decision win over Briton Dave Allen in his last fight four months ago.

“I was very happy when I heard the news because for me this is a dream fight,” the 36-year-old said.

“All my life, I have gone for my goal. My parents, my uncle told me when I was 9 years old, ‘You’re gonna be champion of the world.’”

Speaking on his opponent and entering enemy territory once again, Makhmudov added: “He’s a legend, a big name in boxing, but I come here to make my legacy and my story.”

“When I was in Sheffield [fighting Allen], 10,000 arena, the arena was against me, but I said God is with me, it doesn’t matter who’s against me.

“And I was successful. This time it’s the same thing. All the world can be against me, but it’s nothing if God is with me.”

Fury vs Makhmudov concludes a huge few weeks in British boxing, with Moses Itauma and Chisora both booked in big fights beforehand.

Chatham’s 21-year-old heavyweight star Itauma faces Jermaine Franklin in the main event of the Magnificent 7 bill on March 28.

Chisora, meanwhile, contests his 50th professional fight against Deontay Wilder at London’s O2 Arena the following weekend.