Return to the same goal

The timing is less than romantic. After nearly two years away from the ring, Fury will return on April 11 in the UK against Arslanbek Mahmudov. He retired after his second loss to Usyk, only to change course and announce another run. The stated goal is to become a three-time world champion. Actual goals are harder to define.

Usyk still holds the WBC, WBA and IBF heavyweight titles. He vacated the WBO belt, which left an alternative route for Fury. Warren put forward other names in the suddenly crowded division, including WBO champion Fabio Wardley. Heavyweight prospect Moses Itauma is scheduled to face Jermaine Franklin on March 28 after their fight was postponed earlier this year.

Fury’s focus remains on Usyk, though.

Warren insists Fury has “cemented his legacy” and doesn’t need to fight. This may be true. Fury is a two-time heavyweight champion who has defeated Wladimir Klitschko and defeated Deontay Wilder twice. His place in the era is secure. The thing is, the last chapter people remember was when Usyk surpassed him twice on the biggest stage.

Makhmudov is a heavy puncher who will knock out most opponents on the night, and his re-entry is not a soft one. Warren called it a tough comeback after a long break. If Fury gets stuck, Usyk’s rhetoric could cool down quickly. If he wins cleanly, the need for a trilogy becomes even greater.

When is enough enough?

There is a fundamental sporting question hanging over this comeback. Fury has had two chances to solve the Usyk puzzle; he was decisively defeated both times. The third try felt less like a quest for greatness and more like a quest for personal closure.

While Fury remains obsessed with the one man he can’t beat, the rest of the heavyweight division has moved on. Fans will ultimately decide whether the trilogy is a compelling quest for redemption or just a repetitive cycle that the sport doesn’t need to see again. For now, Fury’s focus is narrow: he wants the best, and for him, that means Usyk. Whether fans or rankings agree is another matter entirely.