Tyson Fury's Return Fueled by Usyk Defeats, Says Former Champion
Tyson Fury's highly anticipated return to the ring this weekend is being powered by the lingering sting of his two defeats to Oleksandr Usyk. That is the assessment of former British and Commonwealth heavyweight champion David Price, who has confidently backed Fury to overcome the Ukrainian in a potential trilogy bout.
Fury's Comeback After Retirement and Year-Long Hiatus
The former two-time world heavyweight champion announced his retirement following a second consecutive loss to Usyk at the close of 2024. After a full calendar year without stepping into the ring, Fury dramatically declared his latest comeback on January 4. He makes his official return on Saturday night, facing Arslanbek Makhmudov in a bout at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, which will be broadcast live globally on Netflix.
Price believes not only that Fury desires another opportunity against Usyk, but that those two defeats from two years ago continue to gnaw at him internally. "I still think he can beat Usyk because there was not much in either fight; neither of them were one-sided fights," Price told Mirror Sport. "He is going to be going for another fight with Usyk, and why wouldn't you? Because the defeats will be eating away at him."
Price Praises Fury's Response to Defeat
Price elaborated on Fury's mental resilience, noting that while the boxer claimed he was robbed in the fights—a common reaction among fighters—he has handled the losses with more grace than some peers. "He's not acting like Deontay Wilder is, who is accusing people of cheating and things like that. He's taken his medicine and now he's coming back and you have got to admire him," Price stated.
The former champion, who shared the ring with Fury in a 2006 amateur bout where he outpointed the Mancunian after recovering from a knockdown, was unsurprised by Fury's return. Price retired in 2022 with a record of 25 wins, including 20 knockouts, and seven losses.
"I was expecting it for a long time," Price said. "He was always going to come out of retirement because he's too young and too good to stay retired. He has got no reason to be retired, and he hasn't got enough things going on outside of boxing to not make him go back to boxing."
Legacy and Purpose Drive Fury's Return
Price emphasized that Fury's motivation extends beyond financial gain. "It is not about money either; it is about his legacy and purpose in his life. I always thought he would fight again," he explained. Regarding Fury's sixteen-month absence from the ring, Price downplayed concerns, noting that elite fighters often compete only once annually.
"He has been out of the ring for sixteen months, and fighters at his level sometimes only fight once a year, so it isn't that long, and he's a former two-time heavyweight champion of the world who has been a pro for 18 years," Price remarked. He described the upcoming fight against Makhmudov as a warm-up bout, asserting that Fury does not typically require such preparatory matches given his experience and skill level.
Price Supports Charity Boxing Event
Price made these comments during the launch of A Night to Remember II, a charity boxing event organized by Pro Project Promotions. Scheduled for Friday, April 17, at the Titanic Hotel, the event aims to surpass the £127,500 raised last year and approach a £500,000 target.
The evening will feature former football stars transitioning to the ring, including bouts such as Lee Trundle versus Chris Iwelumo, Bradley Orr against Carl Ikeme, and an all-Scouse clash between Adam Hammill and former Tranmere Rovers captain Steven Jennings. Other matches include Ross McCormack taking on Matthew Kilgallon and Ryan Cresswell fighting Carl Dickinson.
"It is great what they are doing and they are charities that are close to a lot of people's hearts," Price said. "It just makes it all the more special to be involved."
Fury's comeback fight against Makhmudov marks a significant moment in boxing, with fans able to watch via Netflix, accessible through various Sky TV bundles that include streaming services like HBO Max and Disney+.
