The much‑anticipated showdown between former heavyweight champions Tyson Fury and Anthony Joshua will go ahead, even though pop superstar Dua Lipa is no longer expected to appear. The two British fighters have built a rivalry that has spanned nearly a decade, and they are finally set to clash in what promoters are billing as the biggest heavyweight contest in the United Kingdom’s recent history.
Initially, the event’s chief backer, Saudi financier Turki Al‑Alshikh, had made it clear that a performance by Dua Lipa was a condition for his involvement. Sky Sports reported that the financier wanted the chart‑topping singer to provide the main musical act for the night, hoping her global profile would boost the spectacle’s reach. However, as negotiations stalled, it became apparent that the artist would not be taking the stage.
Rather than allowing the absence of a single performer to derail the entire project, the promotion team has turned its attention to finding a new, iconic British musical act to headline the entertainment segment. Fury’s manager, Spencer Brown – the same publicist who helped secure the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium as a possible venue – told Sky Sports that British fans would quickly move past the change. He listed a range of possible replacements, including legends such as Noel Gallagher, Robbie Williams, the Manic Street Preachers, Sir Elton John, or even Rod Stewart. “Ultimately the decision rests with Mr Alshikh and our partners at Netflix, without whom none of this would be possible,” Brown said, adding that any of those names would eagerly step into the slot left by Dua Lipa.
The search for a suitable performer underscores the ambition of the promoters, who envision a night that blends high‑octane boxing with a memorable musical finale. The event is already being described as an "iconic night of British boxing," a fusion of sport and culture designed to attract a global audience via pay‑per‑view, streaming platforms, and traditional broadcasters. Dua Lipa’s credentials as a live‑event headliner are solid – she performed at the 2018 UEFA Champions League final’s opening ceremony and headlined her own Wembley concert in June of last year.
Yet she has never taken the stage at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, one of the venues under serious consideration for the fight. The stadium, with a capacity of over 62,000, would provide a dramatic backdrop for a heavyweight bout of this magnitude, while Wembley remains an alternative that has hosted major boxing spectacles in the past. The fight itself is slated to occur before the close of 2026, though the exact date and location have yet to be confirmed.
Eddie Hearn, the promoter behind Joshua’s career, has repeatedly emphasized that the bout is "signed, sealed, and delivered," signalling that contractual agreements are already in place. In the meantime, Joshua is set to return to the ring on July 25 against Kristian Prenga, a bout that will serve as a final tune‑up before the larger clash with Fury. Both fighters have storied histories. Fury first announced himself on the world stage a decade ago when he shocked the boxing world by defeating Wladimir Klitschko, ending the Ukrainian’s long reign.
Joshua, a 2012 Olympic gold‑medalist, turned professional shortly after his London triumph and quickly ascended the ranks, capturing the unified IBF, WBO and WBA heavyweight titles in 2016. Their parallel careers have often intersected, but circumstances have prevented a direct encounter for years.
When Joshua won his first world title, Fury was on a self‑imposed hiatus, only to return later and claim the WBC belt after a dramatic series of fights with Deontay Wilder. A potential unification bout between the two seemed within reach, but scheduling conflicts and a third Wilder‑Fury clash delayed the showdown. Meanwhile, Joshua suffered a setback when he was dethroned by Oleksandr Usyk, who later also handed Fury a defeat, prompting the latter’s brief retirement at the start of the previous year. Fury’s recent victory over Arslanbek Makhmudov in London has reignited the conversation, and he appears primed for another high‑stakes battle.
Joshua, on the other hand, has been recovering from a tragic accident that claimed the lives of two close team members and left him with injuries that required a careful rehabilitation program. He is currently training under the guidance of his former rival Usyk, who has publicly backed AJ to overcome Fury in the upcoming bout. With the July 25 fight against Prenga acting as a final hurdle, both men are expected to enter a rigorous training camp in the weeks that follow.
The preparation will likely focus on sharpening power punches, enhancing stamina, and fine‑tuning tactical approaches that could exploit each opponent’s known weaknesses. Analysts anticipate a strategic chess match: Fury’s unpredictable movement and size against Joshua’s disciplined boxing fundamentals and powerful jab.
Beyond the athletes themselves, the event promises a broader cultural impact. The inclusion of a prominent British musical act will aim to attract viewers who might not normally tune into a boxing match, while the partnership with Netflix and other streaming services will provide global accessibility.
Promoters are also planning auxiliary content, such as behind‑the‑scenes documentaries, a weekly "Toe2Toe" podcast series, and a curated highlight reel to keep fans engaged in the lead‑up to the fight. In summary, while the original plan to feature Dua Lipa has fallen through, the fight between Tyson Fury and Anthony Joshua remains firmly on track.
The organizers are actively seeking a suitable replacement act—potentially a legendary UK musician—to ensure the night retains its promised spectacle. As the calendar moves closer to the end of 2026, the boxing world watches with eager anticipation, ready for what could become the most talked‑about heavyweight encounter in British sporting history.