The much‑anticipated showdown between Tyson Fury and Anthony Joshua remains on the calendar, even though pop superstar Dua Lipa is no longer expected to appear on the bill. Organisers are now hunting for a new musical act to fill the slot that was originally earmarked for the chart‑topping singer. Fury and Joshua, both former heavyweight world champions, have cultivated a rivalry that stretches back nearly a decade. After years of speculation and occasional dead‑ends, the two British icons are finally poised to clash in what promoters are billing as an all‑British mega‑event.
The bout is being positioned as the biggest heavyweight contest the United Kingdom has ever hosted, with the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium and Wembley Stadium both floated as potential venues. According to earlier reports from Sky Sports, the Saudi financier Turki Al‑Alshikh, who is backing the fight, stipulated that a high‑profile musical performance was a prerequisite for the spectacle.
Initially, Al‑Alshikh’s team had their sights set on Dua Lipa, whose global reach and recent Wembley headline would have added a pop‑culture sparkle to the night. However, sources now indicate that Lipa is unlikely to accept the invitation, leaving the promoters to pivot quickly.
"I'm sure British fans will get over it," said Spencer Brown, Fury’s manager and the man who helped secure the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium for the comeback fight. "We still want an iconic UK act on the show – someone like Noel Gallagher, Robbie Williams, the Manic Street Preachers, Elton John or even Rod Stewart. Ultimately, the decision rests with Turki Al‑Alshikh and Netflix, because without their backing none of this would be possible." Brown’s comments underscore the importance of music to the overall entertainment package. The promoters have promised to continue the search for "an iconic UK act" that can deliver a memorable performance and keep the event’s star power high.
Potential candidates range from classic rock legends to contemporary pop icons, each capable of drawing a massive television audience and enhancing the night’s spectacle. Dua Lipa’s credentials as a live‑event performer are solid.
She sang at the opening ceremony of the 2018 UEFA Champions League final and has headlined multiple stadium shows, including a sold‑out concert at Wembley last June. While she has never performed at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, her presence would have aligned with the event’s ambition to blend sport and music on a grand scale. The fight itself is slated to take place before the end of 2026, though a precise date and location have yet to be confirmed. Eddie Hearn, the promoter behind Joshua’s camp, has already declared the bout "signed, sealed, and delivered," signalling that contractual hurdles have been cleared.
In the meantime, Joshua is set to make his official return to the ring on July 25 against Kristian Prenga, a fight that will serve as a final tune‑up before the heavyweight showdown. Both fighters bring storied histories to the ring. Fury burst onto the world stage a decade ago when he shocked the boxing world by defeating Wladimir Klitschko, ending the latter’s long reign. Joshua, meanwhile, turned professional after winning Olympic gold in London 2012 and quickly amassed a series of high‑profile victories that earned him the unified IBF, WBO and WBA titles.
Their paths diverged in 2016 when Fury stepped away from boxing for a period, only to return later and capture the WBC title by beating Deontay Wilder in a dramatic showdown. Joshua, after securing his own world titles, was on the brink of an undisputed heavyweight clash with Fury, but scheduling conflicts and a third bout between Fury and Wilder delayed those plans. Joshua subsequently suffered a loss to Oleksandr Usyk, who later also defeated Fury in a rematch, prompting Fury to announce his retirement at the start of the previous year. Fury’s recent return to the ring saw him dispatch Arslanbek Makhmudov in London earlier this month, reigniting his quest for another legacy‑defining fight.
Joshua, meanwhile, has been rebuilding after a tragic accident that claimed the lives of two close friends and team members, leaving him physically and emotionally scarred. He has been training alongside his former rival Usyk, who has publicly backed Joshua to triumph over Fury. With the July 25 bout against Prenga looming as Joshua’s last hurdle, the stage is set for the two titans to finally meet in what many analysts are calling the richest‑anticipated heavyweight bout in British boxing history. The exact venue – whether it will be the football‑centric atmosphere of Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, the historic grandeur of Wembley, or another iconic location – remains under discussion, but the expectation is that the chosen arena will accommodate a massive live audience and a global broadcast.
Beyond the fight itself, the promotional machinery is working to ensure the event feels like a cultural moment. The inclusion of a top‑tier musical performance is seen as essential to attract viewers who might not be traditional boxing fans. By pairing the drama of a heavyweight title clash with the spectacle of a live concert, the organizers aim to create a night that resonates far beyond the sport’s usual fan base. In summary, while Dua Lipa’s absence is a disappointment for some, the Fury‑Joshua bout remains firmly on track.
The search for a suitable replacement act is ongoing, with a roster of legendary British musicians under consideration. As the calendar inches toward the end of 2026, fans can anticipate an event that blends the raw intensity of heavyweight boxing with the electrifying energy of a world‑class concert, promising an unforgettable night for the United Kingdom and a global audience alike.