The highly anticipated showdown between Tyson Fury and Anthony Joshua is still moving forward, even though pop star Dua Lipa is no longer expected to perform at the event. Organisers have already started scouting a new musical act to fill the void, and the fight itself remains the centerpiece of what is being billed as a historic British heavyweight clash. Fury and Joshua, both former world champions, have been locked in a rivalry that stretches back nearly a decade.
After years of speculation and occasional near‑misses, the two British heavyweights are finally set to meet in a bout that promoters are calling the biggest night in the sport’s UK history. The fight will be staged under the auspices of Saudi financier Turki Al‑Alshikh, who is financing the event and, according to earlier Sky Sports reports, originally insisted on having Dua Lipa headline the entertainment segment. Although the singer has now declined the invitation, the promoters are determined not to let the absence of a global pop icon derail the spectacle. Spencer Brown, Fury’s manager and the man who helped organise the fighter’s comeback bout at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, told Sky Sports that British fans will quickly move past the change and that the search for an "iconic UK act" is already under way.
He suggested a range of possible replacements, naming legendary figures such as Noel Gallagher, Robbie Williams, the Manic Street Preachers, Sir Elton John and even Rod Stewart. "It’s ultimately up to Turki Al‑Alshikh and Netflix, because without their backing none of this would be possible," Brown said, adding that any of those artists would be thrilled to step into Dua Lipa’s shoes. The fight itself is being positioned as a cultural moment as much as a sporting one. In the past, high‑profile athletes have shared stages with top‑tier musicians – Dua Lipa herself performed at the 2018 UEFA Champions League final opening ceremony – and the promoters hope to replicate that blend of sport and entertainment.
While the singer headlined a massive show at Wembley last June, she has never performed at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, a venue that is one of the two locations being floated for the bout alongside Wembley. The exact date and arena have not yet been confirmed, but Eddie Hearn, the promoter behind Joshua’s career, has already declared the fight "signed, sealed and delivered" and indicated that it will take place before the close of 2026.
In the meantime, Joshua is gearing up for his next step back into the ring. He has scheduled a comeback fight on July 25 against Kristian Prenga, a bout that will serve as a final tune‑up before the Fury clash.
Joshua’s journey to this point has been anything but straightforward. After winning Olympic gold in London 2012, he turned professional and quickly rose through the ranks, capturing the unified IBF, WBO and WBA heavyweight titles in 2016. However, his trajectory was interrupted when Fury, who had previously stepped away from boxing after his 2015 upset over Wladimir Klitschko, returned to the sport and embarked on a trilogy of fights with Deontay Wilder, ultimately securing the WBC title.
The two British titans have been on intersecting paths for years. In 2019 they were close to a unification bout, but Fury chose a third fight with Wilder instead, while Joshua suffered a loss to Ukraine’s Oleksandr Usyk.
Usyk later defeated Fury in a grueling encounter, prompting Fury to retire again at the start of the previous year. This time, however, Fury has re‑entered the ring, dispatching Arslanbek Makhmudov in London earlier this month, and is now primed for the showdown with Joshua. Joshua’s preparation has been complicated by a tragic accident that claimed the lives of two close friends and team members, leaving him to mourn while also recovering from injuries sustained in the same incident. Despite the emotional and physical toll, he has resumed training, currently working alongside his former rival Usyk, who has publicly backed Joshua to defeat Fury.
With the July 25 Prenga fight serving as Joshua’s final hurdle, the stage is set for what could become the most richly anticipated heavyweight bout the United Kingdom has ever witnessed. Fans are already speculating about the atmosphere that will greet the fighters at either Tottenham Hotspur Stadium or Wembley, both venues capable of hosting tens of thousands of spectators and delivering a truly "iconic night of British boxing." The promotional machinery surrounding the event is also expanding beyond the ring. Streaming platforms such as NOW are offering contract‑free boxing packages, while podcasts like Toe2Toe are delivering weekly analysis and highlights.
The fight is expected to generate a flood of content, from live streams to highlight reels, further cementing its status as a cultural milestone. In summary, while Dua Lipa’s withdrawal adds a minor wrinkle to the entertainment lineup, it does not threaten the core of the event – the clash between two of Britain’s most celebrated heavyweight champions.
Organisers are actively pursuing a replacement that will match the star power of the original choice, and the fighters themselves are sharpening their skills for what promises to be a historic night. As the calendar inches toward the end of 2026, anticipation continues to build, and the promise of an unforgettable showdown remains firmly intact.