Tyson Fury Likely to Return for Potential Anthony Joshua Showdown

Former WBA super middleweight champion George Groves has cast doubt on the permanence of Tyson Fury’s retirement, suggesting that the heavyweight star could return to the ring later this year—especially if Anthony Joshua recovers from his recent injury or surgery.

Speaking to Express via Lottoland boxing betting, Groves voiced confidence that the long-anticipated Fury-Joshua clash is still on the cards and hinted that Saudi Arabia could host the blockbuster bout.

“They’ve both been in boxing their whole lives. They’ve made their money and accomplished a lot, but neither will walk away while there’s still something to gain,” Groves said. “They’ll fight each other—I’m sure of it. Once Joshua is fully fit again, probably later this year, that fight could easily happen. And most likely in Saudi Arabia. They’re prizefighters at the end of the day.”

Groves also weighed in on Fury’s repeated retirements, emphasizing that the 36-year-old’s declarations should not be taken too seriously. According to Groves, retirement often offers fighters temporary relief from the physical demands of training and the regulatory constraints of active competition, but it doesn’t necessarily mark the end of their careers.

“He’s announced his retirement five times already, so we know it doesn’t really mean anything,” Groves remarked. “There are perks to stepping away—he’s free from the athlete lifestyle and the British Boxing Board of Control’s rules. He holds no titles currently, so there’s nothing to lose. Coming back from retirement, as he’s done before, can even build more hype around the fight.”

Assessing the prospective matchup between Fury and Joshua, Groves called it a genuine “50-50” encounter. He credited Fury’s superior agility, ring IQ, and hand speed, but also acknowledged Joshua’s immense punching power and wealth of experience on the biggest stages.

“I don’t agree with Carl Froch, who said it would be a complete mismatch in Fury’s favor,” Groves stated. “Joshua is still a top-level athlete. He hits incredibly hard and has been in plenty of high-pressure fights. It will come down to who shows up best on the night—who wants it more and who still has the most in the tank.”

Groves also touched on Joshua’s recent setback—a knockout loss to Daniel Dubois—which he described as a serious blow to the former unified champion’s career. He suggested Joshua may have underestimated his opponent and was caught off guard by Dubois’ early aggression.

Joshua’s defeat to Dubois was pretty brutal. Dubois got his tactics spot on that night. He came out fast, and Joshua, who likely wanted to ease into the fight, just didn’t have the chance.