‘Tomorrow might never come’: How Joshua’s tragic car crash inspired Fury’s return to boxing

Tyson Fury said the deaths of two of long-time rival Anthony Joshua’s friends in a car crash in December prompted his return to boxing.

Fury will step back into the ring on April 11 after a 15-month absence to face Russian-born heavyweight Arslanbek Makhmudov in a bout at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium.

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The 37-year-old retired after his second successive loss to Oleksandr Usyk at the end of 2024 and went a calendar year without a fight before revealing his latest comeback on January 4.

The announcement came a week after compatriot Joshua was involved in a car crash in Nigeria which killed his close friends Sina Ghami and Latif Ayodele.

“Tomorrow might not ever come and I suppose the biggest turning point in this comeback for me was the tragedy that happened with Anthony Joshua,” Fury said on Monday.

“You should never put things off until tomorrow, or next year, or next week because tomorrow is not promised to nobody.”

Any plans for Fury and Joshua to finally fight in 2026 have been put on the back burner.

And Fury, a former two-time world heavyweight champion, claimed he has also returned to the ring to bring back some glamour to the sport.

“The truth of the matter is I came back for one reason only and that’s to make boxing great again,” added Fury.

“Since I’ve retired for the fifth time over a year ago, boxing for me has gone on a downward slope and it’s become quite boring.”

“Boxing is at its maximum potential when Tyson Fury is actively fighting.

“I bring a circus, I bring an entourage, I bring entertainment, I bring action, I bring cameras, I bring everything to the sport.”

Is Fury right about boxing’s downward spiral?

Fury is never afraid to speak his mind, but has boxing been on the decline?

The heavyweight division alone is the strongest it has been in recent memory.

WBO champion Fabio Wardley and Daniel Dubois will meet in a slugfest on May 9, while unified champion Oleksandr Usyk has been ordered to face the hard-hitting German Agit Kabayel if he wants to keep hold of his WBC belt.

Then there are the epic contests being made in the lower weight classes, and it continues this Saturday night when Mario Barrios and Ryan Garcia meet for the WBC welterweight title.

But one thing is for sure, Fury’s personality is one that boxing thrives off.

Sitting opposite an emotionless Makhmudov, Fury was relishing the prospect of being involved in big-time boxing once more and looking forward to inflicting significant damage on his foe.

“I’m looking forward to punching his face in. It’s been a while, and I missed it,” Fury said.

“I’m going to make his face look like a butcher’s block after four rounds. I know he can’t keep out of the way of my punches.”

It’s lines like this that make Fury a one-of-a-kind athlete. One who is not afraid to speak his mind, whilst also putting on a show inside the ring.

Boxing may not be on a downward spiral, but it sure is a much better place with Fury in it, and if anything, its popularity will surge with one of its biggest names back in action.

Now it will be a case as to whether Fury can deliver his promise of making boxing great again.

Fury reveals major trainer revelation

Trainers are very important for boxers. They help set the strategy for a fight and are the second pair of eyes when the bout is taking place.

For Fury, heading into his return to the ring appears to be going at it alone versus Makhmudov on April 11.

After the press conference, the former WBC and lineal heavyweight champion told Lennox Lewis he’s not going to have a trainer on fight night in London.

“I might Clubber Lang. Train alone,” Fury said. “I’m going to train alone.

“I know how to do it. I know how to go 12 rounds. I know how to push myself when I need to. I know when to take a rest when I need to.”

When Fury was next to him, Lewis seemed to agree with his fellow Brit. However, when Fury left the area, Lewis’ tune changed.

“Yeah, I don’t think so about being solo,” Lewis said.

“There will be a trainer. Just right now, I think he’s getting everything together. But there will be a trainer. No boxer has ever stepped into the ring without a trainer.

“They need somebody to remind them of what to do. For him, everybody, it doesn’t matter how good you are; you need somebody to remind you to keep your hands up.

“When he says he’s going to go in there with nobody, he’s probably going to have his dad (John Fury) in his corner.”

Some of this article first appeared on DAZN.com and was reproduced with permission.