Anthony Joshua has already secured a contract for a highly anticipated clash with Tyson Fury, but his team is also considering a preparatory fight in July before the British showdown slated for November. Fury has formally signed on for the long‑awaited all‑British mega‑event and, fresh off his points win over Arslanbek Makhmudov at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium on Saturday, he issued a renewed challenge to Joshua. Joshua, however, has not yet given a definitive answer to the Fury bout, amid speculation that he could take a tune‑up fight in July. The heavyweight’s schedule has been complicated by a serious car accident he suffered in Nigeria, which tragically claimed the lives of his friends Sina Ghami and Latif Ayodele in December.
Promoter Eddie Hearn addressed the situation on Sky Sports, saying: "I don’t know whether Fury has signed yet – that’s his business. If he has, that’s great.
We received the contract last week and we’re reviewing it." He continued, "There’s been a lot happening in AJ’s life and we want to make sure he’s fully ready to step back into the ring. He’s about to get medical clearance on the physical side, which is excellent news." Hearn also warned that Joshua’s opponent Dillian Whyte has cautioned him against rushing back too quickly, and highlighted the strategic considerations Joshua has made regarding Fury’s offer. "We expect to see him back in the ring in July. The original plan was a March fight followed by a Fury showdown in August, but everything has been pushed back.
Now July and November are the dates on the table and we intend to move forward with them," Hearn explained. There is growing speculation that the July bout could involve former champion Deontay Wilder. Wilder, after defeating Derek Chisora, expressed enthusiasm about a possible fight with the two‑time world champion. Hearn confirmed that his team is exploring a scenario where Joshua would face Wilder first, then take on Fury in a back‑to‑back fashion.
"I think it’s very likely we’ll have a tune‑up fight," Hearn said. "Given what happened, we were supposed to be doing that anyway. Fury just had his own tune‑up, a 12‑round fight to sharpen up, and we expect to do the same." He added, "Wilder would be a separate deal.
We’ve made it clear we’re open to a fight with Deontay Wilder and then Tyson Fury consecutively. I’m not being disrespectful by calling Wilder a warm‑up fight; AJ feels comfortable taking that step next." Hearn emphasized that while a warm‑up fight isn’t part of the core agreement with Fury, it remains an attractive option if presented.
"Some might see it as the riskier path, especially with so much at stake – Fury vs. Joshua, Netflix, the whole ecosystem.
I think they’ll probably look for a slightly easier route for Joshua, much like Fury did, before moving straight into the big fight." He concluded, "100 per cent, the plan is a July warm‑up followed by Fury in November." Despite these plans, representatives from Wilder’s camp have indicated that no formal discussions have taken place yet. Co‑manager Shelly Finkel told Sky Sports, "This is all new to me.
I’d like to speak with Eddie to understand what he’s thinking before I say anything." In summary, Joshua’s team is juggling several moving parts: confirming the Fury contract, ensuring Joshua’s health clearance after his accident, and potentially arranging a July fight—most likely against Wilder—to give the champion a chance to regain rhythm before the marquee November encounter. The heavyweight division watches closely as the calendar solidifies, knowing that any shift could reshape the landscape of British boxing for the remainder of the year.