"Am I happy about it?": John Fury reacts to son Tyson Fury's return to boxing

Last week, Morecambe based Tyson revealed he planned to come out of retirement - yet again.

Back in January 2025, the father of seven confirmed the end of his professional career, a month on from his defeat against the Ukranian Oleksandr Usyk.

Since then, Tyson, 37, has teased a return many times but over the festive period, he shared his strongest intent yet.

Taking to Instagram at the turn of the New Year, the Wythenshaw born boxer wrote: “2026 is that year. Return of the mac. Been away for a while but I’m back now, 37 years old and still punching. Nothing better to do than punch men in the face and get paid for it.”

If true to his word, this would mark Tyson’s fourth return to boxing, after his previous three retirement stints, announced in November 2013, October 2016 and August 2017 were also short-lived.

Following Tyson’s announcment, boxing news site Pro Boxing Fans approchaed his father, John Fury, to see what he made of his son’s intended return to the arena.

John responded: “I’ve made it quite clear I don’t want him to box again.

“Me as a father I’ve got to think sensibly and health comes first before wealth, fame or anything.

“I know in my own, in my heart of hearts, at 37, 38 going on, he’s never going to be as good as he was five years ago, but neither is anybody else.

“They’re all getting older — Usyk’s even older — and like I say, it’s his call, but am I happy about it? No.

“But if he’s bored and he’s unhappy, and as long as we are sensible, we’ve got to be sensible about who he boxes and who he doesn’t box, and let’s see what we can do with it.”

The 60-year-old, who has two other boxer sons in Tommy Fury and Roman Fury, went on to share his concern at the effects prolonged fighting will have on Tyson.

He said: “It’s got to come to an end one day.

“One day it’s going to be over and there will be no comebacks, but maybe that’ll be too late.

“Maybe the damage will be done, and the video he made the other day is a stark reminder.”

Whilst we are not sure what video John is referring to, Tyson has been posting a lot of videos recently, including one in which he reaffirmed his intention to come out of retirement.

Speaking from his holiday in Thailand three days ago, Tyson told his 6.7 million followers: “Just doing a nice bit of chilling out before the second session of the day. Working very hard for this return, the Gypsy King is not taking this lightly whatsoever.

“I’ve had a few comments [that] I’m looking a bit hench, a bit chubby, fat. Well welcome to my world, I’ve never been any different. Beat everybody with a fat belly, never been any different. Never made any odds before, why should it make any odds today? I weight about 20 stone at the moment, probably get down to about 119 [pounds] maybe for the comeback. Nice and loose and fast, really looking forward to it.

“I’ve been away for a while but I’m back now. Had a year out and then if I box in the first quarter, it could be up to 16 months out the ring so yeah, it’s a long time for a 37-year-old. 38 this year, let’s see if I’ve still got it.