How will Tyson Fury’s return to boxing impact on Anthony Joshua and the rest of the heavyweight division?

After so long away from the action and with an ego typical of an unbeaten fighter and former champion, how should Fury go about his comeback?

Later today Frank Warren and BT Sport are expected to announce that Tyson Fury had put pen to paper on a new promotional deal.

After a succession of legal problems and personal issues, his return to the ring is well overdue – and with the heavyweight boxing scene as strong as it's ever been, the former lineal champion's return is undoubtedly an intriguing one.

By the time Fury returns to the ring – likely in the Autumn – it have been well over two-and-a-half years since his crowning night in Düsseldorf against Wladimir Klitschko, where the then 27-year-old delivered one of the all-time great British performances on foreign soil. But after so long away from the action and with an ego typical of an unbeaten fighter and former champion, how should Fury go about his comeback?

Not starting at the top, that's for sure.

It's unlikely that Fury will ever weigh in again as light as he was against Klitschko at 17st 8lbs, having reached a huge 25st during his time out of the ring. If anything is obvious, it's that he wants to reclaim his crown, and rightly so. It means going through unbeaten pair Anthony Joshua and Deontay Wilder, but for now, Fury needs to rehone his natural skills and that essentially means starting again.

The fight against Joshua is the one he wants. It's the one that the British public wants. And it's the one that Joshua wants – just not yet. The current unified heavyweight champion has one man and one thought on his radar, to collect every belt available to him and Wilder is the man keeping him from doing that. A clash between the international giants is the next natural progression, unless he is forced to fight Alexander Povetkin.

Fury eventually facing Joshua should be inevitable but with flagship channels Sky and BT supporting the opposing fighters, it could be nigh-on impossible to organise. While Warren has previously claimed that he would be happy for both broadcasters to show the fight at the same time, Eddie Hearn and Matchroom Boxing have said the complete opposite, and no one really knows how it would actually take place.

When Fury does make his return to the ring this year, he will have a division rife of talent waiting to be the first to beat him - and it could set up some intriguing fights. Dillian Whyte, Tony Bellew and David Price are some of the names that have been discussed but again, there are broadcast issues. One that has been touted for a number of months is if the 6 ft 9 man fights Shannon Briggs — a long-term rival who has been calling him out non-stop.

Tyson Fury has not fought since November 2015 (Getty)

In February, the 'Gypsy King' responded by claiming he was sending Briggs a contract for his return fight. Briggs hasn't fought for close to two years and was given a six-month suspension by the WBA for failing a PED test but the now 46-year-old is unbeaten since losing to Vitali Klitschko in 2010 and a genuinely dangerous opponent, packing plenty of power in his punch and could prove a tricky opponent for Fury to overcome.

Failing Briggs as his first opponent back, Fury could look to a past opponent of Joshua – Dominic Brezeale. The American fighter has built up a formidable record since becoming a professional, losing just the once in 2016 and has since won both of his fights. While he didn't offer much in the way of being formidable in his own fighting regard, it took Joshua all of a frustrating seven rounds to put him away because of how durable he was, and while he approached the fight timidly, since then has shown his power and own skills against Izu Ugonoh and Eric Molina, with the former being put away devastatingly.

With Joshua and Wilder dominating at the top of the heavyweight boxing throne, Fury's return – no matter how uncertain the condition he will be in or level he will be at – is one that throws the division wide open and creates a lot more intrigue as to who really is top dog. Especially in the United Kingdom, where the boxing scene is more exciting than ever.