Hughie Fury 28-3 (16 KOs) is set to face Christian Thun 9-1 (7 KOs) this Friday at the Canon Medical Arena in Sheffield, marking his third bout of 2024. Fury, who has struggled with health issues, is on a mission to reclaim his position in the heavyweight division after a dominant points win against Kostiantyn Dovbyshchenko in April and a TKO over Patrick Korte in May.

Now 30 years old, Fury has acknowledged that his time out of the sport was tough, stating, “It’s been one thing after another. I had health issues, then I had other problems. It’s just been a nightmare. As one problem came, another was arising. It’s been three years of pretty much hell.” Fury shared his struggles with the media, recounting that he thought his career might be over, “I thought I wasn't going to box again. From a young kid, I've put everything in, nothing else, just boxing.”

This upcoming fight presents an opportunity for Fury to get back into the heavyweight conversation. However, his cautious, defensive style has often drawn criticism, and he’s well aware that he needs a big win to get back on the radar. Fury will need to prove himself, not just by winning, but by securing a decisive victory over Thun, a less experienced opponent whose only loss was to Curtis Harper, the same Harper infamous for walking out of the ring against Efe Ajagba in 2018.

Thun, while boasting a respectable record, hasn’t faced the same caliber of opponents as Fury and will be stepping up in competition. However, Thun will look to capitalize on the fact that Fury has been inactive in recent years, and any rustiness could provide an opening. This fight is expected to go the distance, with Fury likely winning a unanimous decision, though a more dominant performance could rekindle interest in his career.

The stakes are high for Fury, who said of his return, “The most important thing for me now is getting the ring rust off and getting under the lights and doing what I do best.” Despite being just 30, Fury has struggled to secure the big-name fights that could elevate his career to the next level. His promoter has spoken about how difficult it has been to find willing opponents for Fury, who claims he’s been “avoided.”

Ultimately, a win over Thun may not vault Fury into immediate title contention, but it will keep him busy and set him up for bigger challenges in the near future. Thun, on the other hand, will be aiming to use Fury’s name to launch his own career into the spotlight, hoping that an upset win will erase memories of his loss to Harper.