Tyson Fury is reportedly weighing the option of stepping into the ring for a preparatory bout before his much‑anticipated showdown with Anthony Joshua later this year. The heavyweight showdown between Fury and AJ has been pencilled in for sometime before the close of 2026, but the road to that marquee event may involve a couple of warm‑up contests for both fighters.
Joshua is set to headline a fight in Riyadh on July 25, where he will face the relatively unknown Albanian contender Kristian Prenga. That bout is being billed as a warm‑up for the British champion, giving him a chance to sharpen his skills and stay active ahead of the possible clash with Fury. At the same time, Fury, who only recently returned to the sport after a year‑long hiatus, is also contemplating a similar tune‑up, potentially in the same month.
Frank Warren, the veteran promoter who handles Fury’s career, hinted to Sky Sports that the former world champion might decide to add another fight to his schedule. "He may decide he wants to do another fight," Warren said, adding that it would not be surprising at all. "Tyson wants to keep busy.
He needs to stay focused on boxing, and having a date helps with that. Right now there is no confirmed date for the Joshua fight because AJ is fighting in July." Warren also warned that the outcome of Joshua’s July bout could have a direct impact on the feasibility of the Fury‑Joshua matchup. "We'll have to talk about that afterwards. Let's hope he doesn't lose," he said.
"If he isn’t going to beat this fellow, he isn’t going to beat Tyson – that’s for sure. He has to go out and do a job." The stakes are high for Joshua. A loss to Prenga would not only derail his momentum but could also cast doubt on whether the Fury‑Joshua fight would still be a viable commercial proposition. The British fighter has been under considerable emotional strain after the tragic car accident that claimed the lives of two close friends, and a defeat could exacerbate any lingering mental hurdles.
"This fight is here for him to win and get all the cobwebs out and some of the mental problems that he may have, or not, from that terrible tragedy of losing his two friends in that car crash. So that's what it's all about," Warren explained, emphasizing the psychological component of Joshua’s preparation. Assuming Joshua emerges victorious in Riyadh and Fury decides to take a warm‑up fight of his own, the next step will be to lock down a date for the heavyweight super‑fight. Industry insiders suspect the bout could be slated for October or November, giving both camps ample time to recover from their respective warm‑up contests and to enter a focused training camp.
"AJ’s fighting on the 25th of July, he'll want to go back into camp, that’s the sort of timescale," Warren noted. "Tyson would prefer to do it as soon as possible.
He’d like to schedule it in August or September if possible." This timeline would allow the fighters to maintain peak conditioning while also giving promoters time to negotiate venue, broadcasting rights, and sponsorship deals. Speaking of venues, Wembley Stadium in London has emerged as a natural candidate for a fight of this magnitude.
A stadium‑size setting would accommodate the massive global audience that a Fury‑Joshua clash is expected to attract, and the UK location would please both fighters’ fan bases. "We’d all like it in the UK but we’ll see," Warren said, leaving the door open for other possibilities, perhaps even a venue in Saudi Arabia, given the kingdom’s recent investment in high‑profile boxing events. Warren was quick to dismiss any potential drama over the traditional "A‑side/B‑side" hierarchy that often accompanies co‑main‑event negotiations. "That’s got to be all decided but honestly, it wouldn’t bother me in the slightest because, for me, there’s only one winner," he said, firmly backing his client, Fury.
He added that the financial incentives for both fighters are enormous, with multi‑million‑dollar purses on the table, and that the primary driver will be the box‑office draw and the interest of Saudi financiers who are eager to fund a spectacular event. One unexpected twist that has surfaced is a rumored stipulation from Saudi backer Turki Al‑Alshikh that pop star Dua Lipa perform at the event. While such a demand might seem unusual for a boxing match, Warren does not believe it will become a roadblock. "I doubt it very much," he remarked, indicating that the entertainment element, while novel, is unlikely to derail the core fight negotiations.
In summary, the path to a Fury‑Joshua showdown appears to be taking shape: both fighters may engage in warm‑up contests in July, Joshua’s performance will be a key factor, and a tentative timeline points toward an autumn date, possibly at Wembley. The promoters are optimistic that there will be no major hiccups and that the fight will capture the imagination of boxing fans worldwide. "Hopefully there’s going to be no hiccups and we’ll get it. It’s the big fight.
It’s finally on and it’ll capture everybody’s imagination," Warren concluded. Fans can also look forward to other high‑profile bouts on the horizon, such as the upcoming Chris Billam‑Smith versus Ryan Rozicki clash, which will be broadcast live on Sky Sports on Saturday, June 6.
This busy summer schedule underscores the sport’s resurgence and the appetite for marquee heavyweight battles that promise to deliver drama, skill, and unforgettable moments.