Eddie Hearn, the promoter behind Anthony Joshua, has taken a firm stand against recent comments from Tyson Fury that have cast uncertainty over their highly anticipated showdown. Hearn reminded everyone that history shows Joshua has never backed out of a bout, and he challenged Fury’s credibility by pointing to the latter’s own record of withdrawals. Both British heavyweights are set to step back into the ring this week as part of their final warm‑up fights before the ultimate clash. Joshua will face Kristian Prenga, while Fury will take on Mariusz Wach.
The two bouts have been billed as must‑win performances, essentially serving as the last litmus test before the November showdown that fans have been waiting for. A specific date and venue for the Joshua‑Fury fight have yet to be confirmed, but the buzz is unmistakable. In a recent interview with Sky Sports, Fury hinted that the fight might not happen as planned, suggesting he could be open to fighting "somebody else" later in the year.
Hearn responded with a pointed rebuttal, arguing that Fury, not Joshua, is the bigger flight risk. He cited Fury’s history of pulling out of high‑profile matches, most notably the aborted clash with Deontay Wilder that was derailed by an arbitration ruling. During his pre‑fight press conference, Joshua expressed lofty ambitions, saying he wants to "conquer the earth and then the universe." He deliberately avoided mentioning Fury directly out of respect for his upcoming opponent, Prenga, but added that he would be unfazed if Fury – nicknamed the Gypsy King – were to sit ringside watching the bout.
Hearn’s comments to Sky Sports were unequivocal: "Look at the history. Check the facts, check the résumé.
If you really want to pick one fighter who's more reliable than the other, I don't think it's a close‑run race." He went on to praise Joshua’s professionalism, noting that the British champion has never signed for a fight and then failed to turn up. "He's got the most solid résumé and the most professional attitude of any fighter I've ever worked with," Hearn said, contrasting that with Fury’s more erratic past. He reminded listeners that Joshua had previously been slated to fight Fury before the latter withdrew, reinforcing the point that the onus of any future cancellation would lie with Fury.
"If odds are being thrown around about who might pull out of this fight, trust me, it isn’t Anthony Joshua," Hearn asserted. "Don’t forget, AJ has not only fought every contender he could have, he also previously signed to fight Tyson Fury, who pulled out of the fight because of an arbitration ruling involving Deontay Wilder." Beyond the verbal sparring, logistical issues are also surfacing. Brent Council has yet to be approached about extending Wembley Stadium’s curfew to accommodate a potential 2 a.m.
ring walk for the Joshua‑Fury event. Turki Al‑Sheikh, the Saudi businessman spearheading the all‑British bout, has said he wants the fight to be scheduled at a time that suits a global audience and plans to discuss the matter with London’s mayor, Sir Sadiq Khan. Any change to Wembley’s current 11 p.m.
curfew would need approval from the stadium’s safety advisory group, of which Brent Council is a member. When Sky Sports sought comment, Wembley declined to speak on unannounced events. Hearn speculated that Fury’s recent doubts might simply be a mind‑game tactic, a way for the Gypsy King to try to get under Joshua’s skin before the fight even begins.
"This build‑up is going to be epic," he said. "We know the fight is going to be epic. In and out of the ring, this is going to be box office.
We've waited a long time for this." He painted a vivid picture of the narrative that could unfold: two contrasting personalities, a clash of styles, and a storyline that promises drama both inside and outside the ropes. "It’s going to be spicy, funny and compelling.
Two very different characters. God willing they both get the wins on Friday and Saturday and we can finally get this thing on," Hearn added. According to Hearn, the only realistic scenarios that could derail the November bout are a defeat or an injury to either fighter during their upcoming warm‑up fights.
"The only thing that’s going to stop the fight from happening in November is if one of these guys gets beat this weekend or picks up an injury," he said, tapping a wooden charm for luck. "Touch wood, especially the first one, hopefully neither of those will happen." Joshua’s opponent, Kristian Prenga, remains something of an unknown quantity.
While Prenga boasts a perfect 20‑0 record, every victory has come by knockout, making him a dangerous prospect. Hearn cautioned that despite Joshua’s reputation as a clinical finisher, the fight could present unexpected challenges. "Joshua is a great finisher, he’s done that his whole career," Hearn noted.
"If he sees an opportunity, he’ll try to seize it. But I think it’s a dangerous fight. Everybody talks about it being routine for AJ, but a lot has happened in his life. He’s had to come back from a huge amount physically, mentally and emotionally." He emphasized that Joshua will be fighting not just for himself, but also for the team members who have supported him throughout his career.
"There will be a lot going through his mind on Saturday. Two guys who have been with him throughout his career won’t be there. I’m sure he’ll be fighting for them as well," Hearn said. The matchup also pits Joshua’s technical skill against Prenga’s raw power.
"Then there’s the challenge of a big, strong, heavy‑handed, motivated fighter who’s coming to change his life," Hearn explained. "AJ has to take him out before he takes you out.
That’s heavyweight boxing. Prenga is dangerous.
If he catches you on the chin, you’ll know about it. AJ has got to be disciplined and switched on." In summary, Hearn’s message is clear: Anthony Joshua is ready, reliable, and eager to prove himself ahead of the biggest fight of his career, while Tyson Fury’s recent wavering may be more about psychological warfare than genuine scheduling concerns. The upcoming fights this weekend will serve as the final litmus test, and unless an upset or injury occurs, the path to a historic British heavyweight showdown remains wide open.