“Every Summer He Retires” – Khabib Nurmagomedov Trolls Tyson Fury For Upcoming Fight

Tyson Fury is undoubtedly one of boxing’s most entertaining heavyweight champions, pairing elite skill with a personality that enhances his accomplishments. His versatility has been central to his success, while his presence outside the ring has kept him in the spotlight. However, a recurring theme has been his repeated retirements followed by returns, which recently drew comment from Khabib Nurmagomedov.

Fury’s career has been defined by multiple retirements and comebacks that rival his in-ring achievements. His first retirement came in 2013 after several fight cancellations, followed by additional retirements announced in 2016, 2017, and again in 2022. Most recently, ‘The Gypsy King’ retired in January 2025 after his rematch loss to Oleksandr Usyk, marking the fifth retirement of his professional career.

Fury’s latest retirement U-turn came when he announced a return to the squared circle for a fight against Russian heavyweight Arslanbek Makhmudov on April 11 in the United Kingdom. The bout will be streamed globally on Netflix and marks Fury’s first fight since retiring in January 2025. The announcement caught Nurmagomedov’s eye, who recently spoke about it when asked about a potential return to MMA.

I think Tyson Fury has come out of retirement five times. Every summer, he retires. I think before vacation, he announced he was retiring. Then I think he spent all his money and came back. This is how I feel, but Tyson is a great champion and I think he’s coming back against a Dagestani. Of course, I’m going to watch this fight. It’s always fun to watch Tyson Fury.

Khabib Nurmagomedov via MMAArena

"Every summer he retires" – Khabib on Tyson Fury 😭

“I think Tyson Fury came out of retirement 5 times. Every summer he retires. I think before vacation he announced he was retiring. I think he spent all his money and came back. Tyson is one of the best heavyweights of our era.”… pic.twitter.com/D3YJPe1ybk

— Red Corner MMA (@RedCorner_MMA) January 30, 2026

Fury and Nurmagomedov share a respectful relationship rooted in mutual appreciation across combat sports. Fury has previously praised the former UFC champion for managing his career carefully and retiring on his own terms in 2021. In return, Nurmagomedov has recognized the British heavyweight as one of boxing’s most genuine figures for his public respect and appreciation within the sport.

Fury remained undefeated for most of his career, earning notable wins over Deontay Wilder, Dillian Whyte, and Otto Wallin during his rise to the top of the heavyweight division. His unbeaten run ended in 2024 when he suffered a split-decision loss to Oleksandr Usyk in their first meeting. The rematch in January 2025 marked a second defeat on Fury’s record, as he again lost to Usyk by unanimous decision.

Khabib Nurmagomedov is widely regarded as one of the UFC’s all-time greats, with a dominant, undefeated career that helped define his era. The ‘Eagle’s retirement in 2021 marked a significant turning point in UFC history, leaving a void at the top of the lightweight division. In contrast, Tyson Fury’s repeated retirements have created cycles of speculation but have not diminished his presence in boxing.

Eddie Hearn weighs in on Tyson Fury’s recent retirement U-Turn

Tyson Fury’s recent retirement U-turn to fight Arslanbek Makhmudov has sparked debate across the boxing community. Many feel his repeated retirements are an attempt to gain attention rather than a serious comeback. However, Matchroom Boxing CEO Eddie Hearn recently stated that the Gypsy King’s return is not another attention-seeking stunt and emphasized that Fury remains in prime condition.

Hearn had previously commented on Fury’s repeated retirements, noting that the British heavyweight should consider staying retired if he had lost all love for the sport. He also referenced Fury’s age and the physical demands of elite-level boxing. Despite these former concerns, the Matchroom CEO acknowledged that Fury’s recent U-turn demonstrates his continued passion and readiness to compete.

I think he’s an incredible fighter. I think he’s brilliant for the game. He can be involved in some huge fights. By the way, he’s still in his prime. He lost two very close fights to Usyk. It’s not like, ‘Oh, he’s finished now.’

Eddie Hearn via Sky Sports

Tyson Fury is still in his "prime" and his return to boxing is great for the sport, says Eddie Hearn 💪 pic.twitter.com/mu0ZLlCY69

— Sky Sports Boxing (@SkySportsBoxing) January 19, 2026

At the end of the day, Hearn’s perspective reflects his role as a promoter, focused on major fights and commercial appeal. He is actively pursuing a superfight between Tyson Fury and his star boxer, Anthony Joshua, a matchup long anticipated by fans. Previous plans for the bout have repeatedly failed, but Fury’s latest return adds renewed momentum to Hearn’s efforts to finally bring the fight to fruition.

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