Anthony Joshua and Tyson Fury have officially agreed to face each other in a boxing match. The announcement was made by Saudi Arabian boxing chief Turki Alalsheikh on social media, with Joshua confirming his participation in a multi-fight deal. Alalsheikh assured fans in Great Britain that the fight is a done deal. Joshua is set to have a warm-up bout against Kristian Prenga in Riyadh on July 25 before potentially facing Fury in November at Wembley, with the fight likely to be broadcast on Netflix.
Fury recently made a successful return to the ring after a 16-month hiatus, defeating Arslanbek Makhmudov. He disclosed that he had already signed up to fight Joshua, who opted not to engage in a face-off in Tottenham after the match. Joshua’s return to the ring was delayed following a car accident in Nigeria that resulted in the loss of two close friends. Despite the setback, Joshua has been training diligently in Ukraine alongside champion Oleksandr Usyk, who believes Joshua will triumph over Fury in their upcoming bout.
Fury expressed surprise at Joshua’s absence for a face-off, acknowledging the challenges both fighters have faced in their careers. He emphasized the unpredictability of heavyweight boxing and the risks involved in taking interim fights. Despite the long-awaited showdown between Joshua and Fury, Fury expressed uncertainty about the fight’s certainty, stating his desire for the match to happen but acknowledging doubts about its realization.