Tyson Fury is reportedly weighing the option of stepping into the ring for a preparatory bout before his highly anticipated clash with Anthony Joshua later this year. The marquee heavyweight showdown between Fury and AJ is currently earmarked for sometime before the close of 2026, but the road to that encounter may involve a couple of warm‑up contests for both fighters. Joshua has already confirmed a summer fight on July 25 in Riyadh, where he will face the relatively unknown Albanian contender Kristian Prenga.
That bout will serve as a test for the British champion and a final tune‑up before he turns his attention to Fury. Meanwhile, Fury, who made a comeback to professional boxing earlier this month after a year‑long hiatus, is also contemplating a similar warm‑up fight, potentially scheduled for July as well. Frank Warren, Fury’s promoter, hinted at the possibility during an interview with Sky Sports, saying, “He may decide he wants to do another fight.” Warren went on to explain that Fury likes to stay active and that having a concrete date helps him maintain focus.
At present, there is no firm date for the Fury‑Joshua bout because Joshua’s July fight still needs to be resolved first. Warren added, “We’ll have to talk about that afterwards. Let’s hope he doesn’t lose. If he isn’t going to beat this fellow, he isn’t going to beat Tyson, that’s for sure.
He’s got to go out and do a job.” The implication is clear: a loss for Joshua against Prenga could jeopardise the entire super‑fight plan, as promoters would be reluctant to match a defeated champion against Fury. The broader boxing calendar for 2026 is already filling up with major events, and the Fury‑Joshua fight is expected to be one of the headline attractions. Fans can stream the action through platforms such as NOW, and the Toe2Toe podcast continues to provide weekly analysis of the sport’s biggest storylines. Warren also spoke about the psychological aspect of the upcoming fight for Joshua.
He noted that the bout against Prenga is intended to help the British champion shake off any lingering doubts and emotional baggage stemming from the tragic car accident that claimed the lives of two of his close friends. “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,” Warren said. Assuming Joshua emerges victorious in Riyadh and Fury proceeds with his own warm‑up, the next step will be to lock in a date for the heavyweight super‑fight.
The most likely window appears to be October or November, giving both camps enough time to recover, train, and promote the event. Warren explained, “AJ’s fighting on the 25th of July, he’ll want to go back into camp, that’s the sort of timescale.
Tyson would prefer to do it as soon as possible, ideally in August or September.” The venue for the clash has yet to be finalized, but Wembley Stadium in London is being floated as a natural choice given its capacity and historic significance for British boxing. Warren said, “We’d all like it in the UK but we’ll see.” He also dismissed concerns about negotiating who would be the A‑side or B‑side, or the order of the ring‑walks, stating that those details are secondary to the fact that there will be only one winner. Financially, the fight promises to be a blockbuster. Both Fury and Joshua command massive purses, and the involvement of Saudi financing—particularly from the influential sports patron Turki Al‑Alshikh—adds a significant cash infusion.
Warren remarked, “The money they’re getting paid, they can skip in, do cartwheels into the ring. It’s all about box office and demand, and thanks to the interest of the Saudis and them financing it.” One unexpected twist that has surfaced is a rumored stipulation from Al‑Alshikh that pop star Dua Lipa should perform at the event. While such a requirement could complicate logistics, Warren expressed confidence that it would not derail the fight’s planning. “I doubt it very much,” he said.
In closing, Warren conveyed optimism that the fight will proceed without major hiccups. “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,” he concluded. Boxing enthusiasts can also look forward to other notable match‑ups on the horizon, such as the Chris Billam‑Smith versus Ryan Rozicki showdown, which will be broadcast live on Sky Sports on Saturday, June 6.
The sport’s calendar remains packed, and the Fury‑Joshua saga continues to dominate headlines as both camps prepare for what could become one of the most memorable heavyweight battles of the decade.