Tommy Fury marked his return to the ring with a performance that was more gritty than glamorous, edging out Kenan Hanjalic via unanimous decision in Budapest. Though the win keeps his unbeaten record intact, it was far from a showcase of dominance, as the Briton struggled to find rhythm after an 18-month layoff.
Fury, now 26, had not stepped between the ropes since his headline-grabbing decision win over KSI in late 2023. In the time since, the younger half-brother of Tyson Fury has navigated not only recovery from hand surgery but also the turbulence of personal upheaval and reconciliation with long-time partner Molly-Mae Hague. His return fight — staged in front of a modest crowd at the MTK Arena — may have lacked the glittering lights of his past influencer clashes, but it served as a quiet reintroduction to the professional grind.
Facing Bosnia’s Kenan Hanjalic, a largely unheralded opponent with a 5-1 record, Fury looked rusty and often tentative. Over six cruiserweight rounds, he failed to establish meaningful dominance, his jab lacking snap and his timing visibly off. While Hanjalic saw a point deducted in the fourth round and twice hit the canvas — incidents the referee ruled as slips — there was little else to separate the two in a fight that never truly caught fire.
Still, the judges were unanimous in awarding the bout to Fury, who now moves to 11-0. It may not have been pretty, but the decision keeps his momentum alive in a career defined less by glittering belts and more by marquee names from outside the sport.
Fury’s post-fight comments hinted at deeper battles away from the ring — a turbulent two-year stretch filled with emotional lows and personal struggles. Having seemingly turned the page, the former reality star is already setting his sights on a return to the influencer boxing circuit that made him a crossover sensation.
Chief among his targets: Jake Paul. Fury bested the American YouTuber-turned-fighter in a points decision in 2023 and appears keen on a sequel. Now claiming to be fully healed from hand surgery, Fury has thrown down the gauntlet again, stoking the rivalry with promises of a knockout should they meet a second time.
KSI, too, remains in the orbit. Though he’s been absent from competition since his defeat to Fury, the commercial appeal of a rematch could prove too enticing for both camps to ignore — particularly if Paul is preoccupied. That said, Paul is currently set to fight former WBC middleweight champion Julio Cesar Chavez Jr on 28 June, keeping him out of the immediate picture.
Another possible — albeit more unconventional — option is a rearranged bout with former UFC star Darren Till. A previously planned contest was scrapped amid concerns over MMA-related antics, but should both parties find common ground, the crossover appeal could reignite negotiations.
Ultimately, Fury’s latest outing may not have silenced critics or thrilled fans, but it served a purpose: shaking off the dust, reaffirming his commitment to boxing, and reigniting the influencer-fuelled narratives that continue to define his career. Whether it’s Paul, KSI, or even Till, the next chapter promises to be louder, more lucrative, and undoubtedly more polished — if he can build on this scratchy comeback.
