LAST year was a new beginning for Hughie Fury.
The heavyweight contender put together a run of three fights and three wins, the most he has managed since 2019. Now, having signed with a new promoter and his return pencilled in for April 4, Fury can look forward to building more momentum, which had been missing for years.
Fury’s career and life were hit by unique challenges after beating Christian Hammer in Newcastle on October 16, 2021. That would be the last time anyone would see the 6ft 6ins heavyweight in a professional fight until April last year. Long COVID and a skin condition which affected his immune system sidelined Fury for such a lengthy period that there was a question hanging over his long-term future in the sport.
“Basically, just a waste,” was how Fury summed up his 30 months away from the sport when he spoke to Boxing News this week.
“Completely ill, nothing you can do about it, but it’s one of them. It’s a thing of the past, it’s been a gap of three years, trying to get back in the ring. It’s been torture, nothing but hell. But things happen, and I believe everything happens for a reason.”
The 30-year-old, though, did take one positive from his absence.
“I’ve got a good team around me and my family. That’s the most important thing. As long as I’ve got my family. My father believes in my ability, and he still believes that I’ll get to the top. So that’s all I need, and I believe in myself after getting through that time as well. Now it’s just a matter of putting it all in quick.”
Fury, 29-3 (16 KOs), returns on April 4 at York Hall on a GBM Promotions card entitled ‘Once Upon A Time In London’. Tuesday’s announcement came a day after it was revealed that Fury had committed to a long-term deal with GBM. The press release featured a quote from the fighter which said, “I’m coming for all the top heavyweights.”
With that said, however, Fury won’t turn 31 until September. Top contender Zhilei Zhang, by comparison, is 41 and possibly one win away from only his first world title fight. Time is very much Fury’s friend but his enforced break from boxing means he is playing catch-up.
In 2024, Fury defeated Kostiantyn Dovbyshchenko, Patrick Korte and Christian Thun. All perfectly acceptable opponents after his absence. But in 2025, Fury, who wants the likes of Zhang, Filip Hrgovic and Anthony Joshua asap, needs a win that can earn him a top 15 world ranking with one of the sanctioning bodies. Fury, meanwhile, believes having survived his health troubles and coming out the other side will stand him in good stead moving forward.
“There’s nothing that can beat me whatsoever,” he stated. “I think my mindset, the hunger, and the experience of what I’ve got behind me has put me on to the next chapter.”
“I’ve got that much experience,” the former world title challenger added. “And what people don’t realise is they haven’t seen a fraction of it, and I can’t wait to show that. I’ve got the ability, and as well, from fighting so young, I’ve never even had the man strength, and you can see it by my body strength and everything. I believe now this is the right time.”
“All these complications in my life to deal with, if I had all them problems solved, I would have been world champion and I would have took over a lot sooner as well. But I’ve had these obstacles in the way, and as I said, life sometimes is not as easy. You’ve got to go through these barriers, and it makes a better story in the end.”
