Anthony Joshua is poised to sign a contract for a highly anticipated showdown with Tyson Fury, although he may first participate in a warm-up bout in July before facing his British counterpart in November. Fury has already put his name to the agreement and has issued a fresh challenge to Joshua following his victory over Arslanbek Makhmudov at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium.
Joshua has yet to commit to the Fury fight, amid speculation that he might take on a warm-up bout in July after being involved in a serious car accident in Nigeria that tragically claimed the lives of his friends. Promoter Eddie Hearn revealed that Joshua's team received the contract last week and are currently reviewing it, with Hearn stating that they want to ensure Joshua is ready to return to the ring. Hearn expects Joshua to be back in the ring in July, with the original plan to fight in March and then face Fury in August having been delayed.
There is speculation that Joshua's July bout could be against Deontay Wilder, with Wilder having expressed interest in a fight against Joshua. Hearn says they are exploring the possibility of Joshua facing Wilder and then Fury in back-to-back fights. According to Hearn, it is likely that Joshua will have a tune-up fight before facing Fury, with Wilder being a potential opponent. However, Wilder's camp has denied that any discussions have taken place, with his co-manager Shelly Finkel stating that he would like to speak with Hearn to understand his thoughts on the matter.