Anthony Joshua Holds Tyson Fury Contract, May Schedule Warm-Up Fight First

Promoter Eddie Hearn has revealed that Anthony Joshua is in possession of the contract for his highly anticipated bout with Tyson Fury, but a warm-up fight in July could precede their November showdown. Following his victory over Arslanbek Makhmudov, Fury signed for the all-British mega fight and issued a challenge to Joshua. However, Joshua's involvement in a recent car accident in Nigeria, which resulted in the tragic loss of his friends, has led to speculation about his readiness to return to the ring. Hearn stated that Joshua is nearing full recovery and is expected to resume training soon. The original plan was for Joshua to fight in March, followed by a match against Fury in August, but these plans have been delayed. Instead, July and November are now the proposed dates for Joshua's return to the ring. There is speculation that Joshua's July bout could be against Deontay Wilder, with Hearn confirming that they are exploring the possibility of Joshua facing Wilder and then Fury in consecutive fights. Hearn believes it is likely that Joshua will have a tune-up fight before facing Fury, citing the need for Joshua to regain his sharpness after a period of inactivity. Wilder's camp, however, has denied that any discussions have taken place regarding a potential fight against Joshua.