Eddie Hearn responds to Tyson Fury vs Anthony | Boxing News
Tyson Fury and Anthony Joshua are anticipated to battle this 12 months (Image: 2026 Mark Robinson)
Eddie Hearn has confirmed a battle between Anthony Joshua and Tyson Fury is “signed, sealed, delivered.” The explosive announcement was made this afternoon, shortly after Joshua’s next opponent was also unveiled.
The former World Champion and Olympic gold medallist will take on Albanian boxer Kristian Prenga on July 25, before shifting his focus to a showdown against the Gypsy King later in 2026. A date has not yet been confirmed for the conflict between the 2 British heavyweights, but it is anticipated to happen in the ultimate quarter of this 12 months.
It is a battle which has been over a decade in the making, significantly after an undisputed world heavyweight encounter between the duo was scrapped in 2021, following an arbitration choose’s ruling that Fury must face Deontay Wilder in a trilogy bout with the Bronze Bomber also turning down a step-aside fee.
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Joshua was also mandated to face Oleksandr Usyk in a obligatory WBO title defence, which concluded with the Ukrainian comprehensively defeating him to declare the belt. Fury subsequently overcame Wilder, while Joshua met Usyk in a rematch, only to endure defeat once more.
There have been some discussions for a battle in 2022, but the state of affairs grew to become difficult when Fury repeatedly imposed his own strict deadlines on a contract between the pair to be signed. This has not been the case this 12 months, as Hearn confirmed on social media.
The Matchroom chief shared a {photograph} of himself alongside chairman of the Saudi Arabian General Entertainment Authority Turki Alalshikh and Joshua beaming. He wrote: “Signed, sealed, delivered! AJ v Fury is on!”
Joshua has already began the psychological warfare with Fury, writing: “It’s no secret I’ve taken some time to consolidate and rebuild to be ready for stepping back into the ring and this is the next step on that journey. I’m looking forward to competing and picking up where I left off. As I said. The landlord will collect his rent. That is certain.”
Fury is yet to reply immediately, but has reposted an Instagram add of Alalshikh confirming the news on X. Nevertheless, given the style in which he issued his problem to Joshua immediately after he defeated Russian giant Arslanbek Makhmudov via unanimous resolution earlier this month, Fury will probably be brimming with confidence.
Following his triumph, he turned in the direction of Joshua and bellowed: “I want you, AJ, Anthony Joshua. Let’s give the fight fans what they want – the Battle of Britain. I challenge you Anthony Joshua to fight me the Gypsy King next. Do you accept my challenge?”
Naturally, Joshua will first need to overcome Prenga, the comparatively unknown 35-year-old who has constructed a status as a formidable knockout specialist. He possesses a 20-1 document, with 20 victories coming via knockout. His sole defeat got here in February 2017, when he misplaced to Giovanni Auriemma in the Netherlands.
Hearn had repeatedly insisted Joshua would have a ‘warm-up’ bout forward of any showdown with Fury, having most just lately stepped into the ring against Jake Paul in a extremely profitable contest, before surviving a devastating car crash in Nigeria, which tragically claimed the lives of his associates Sina Ghami and Latif Ayodele.
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