Tyson Fury has made it clear he wants to face long-time rival Anthony Joshua next, in what is widely viewed as the biggest fight in British boxing history. However, fresh developments suggest the bout may not happen immediately, with both camps considering warm-up fights.
The two heavyweights have been linked for years, but the fight has repeatedly failed to materialise. Now, momentum appears stronger than ever, with negotiations actively underway and both sides moving closer to an agreement.
Fury recently returned to the ring after a 16-month absence, having previously announced what was widely seen as his fifth retirement following back-to-back defeats to Oleksandr Usyk. The ‘Gypsy King’ ended his lay-off with a dominant, unanimous decision win over Arslanbek Makhmudov, immediately calling out Joshua afterward.
According to multiple reports, Fury has already signed his side of the deal, with negotiations now progressing as Joshua’s team finalise terms. Promoter Eddie Hearn has indicated that the contract could be signed imminently, potentially as early as next week, pending Joshua’s approval.
At the same time, both camps appear aligned on one key issue, the need for a warm-up fight.
Fury’s manager, Spencer Brown, shares that Fury may take another bout before facing Joshua.
“We’ve signed, we’re just waiting, we’re ready to go. But Tyson’s been out of the ring for a long time before coming back, so we’d probably want another fight before the AJ fight, a proper warm-up and then we’re ready.” Brown said.
Fury and Joshua teams align on tune-up bouts ahead of mega fight
Joshua’s side has echoed a similar stance. Hearn has already indicated that AJ is targeting a tune-up fight, widely rumoured to take place in July, before stepping into a potential blockbuster clash later in the year. As he has been out of action since his knockout victory over Jake Paul, past December.
With Joshua also having spent time out of the ring, a preparatory bout is seen as a necessary step to ensure both fighters are at their best heading into such a high-stakes contest.
While the fight edges closer, key details such as location and timing remain unresolved. Saudi boxing figure Turki Alalshikh is expected to play a major role in staging the event, although Wembley Stadium remains a preferred option if conditions allow.
“It’s really down to His Excellency Turki Al-Sheikh,” Brown added. “We’d love Wembley, but it depends on availability, timing and the weather.”
He also outlined a potential timeline for the fight.
“If Tyson has a fight in July, then the big one probably happens October, November, or December, it’s going to have to move quickly,” Brown concluded.
Despite the possibility of interim fights, optimism remains high that Fury vs Joshua will finally take place in 2026. The long-anticipated clash has been years in the making, and current developments suggest it is now closer than ever to becoming a reality.
