Promoter Eddie Hearn reminded everyone that Anthony Joshua has never backed out of a bout when he was confronted with Tyson Fury’s recent suggestion that their all‑British heavyweight showdown might fall through. The two champions are set to step back into the ring this week – Joshua against Kristian Prenga and Fury versus Mariusz Wach – in what both camps have billed as must‑win warm‑up fights before the much‑anticipated clash.
The British titans are slated to finally meet in November, although the exact date and venue remain under wraps. In a recent Sky Sports interview, Fury hinted at uncertainty, saying he was prepared to face "somebody else" later in the year if the Joshua fight did not materialise.
Hearn was quick to fire back, arguing that Fury, not Joshua, is the greater flight risk given his history of pulling out of high‑profile contests. Ahead of his Saturday bout with Prenga, Joshua addressed the media and declared his ambition to "conquer the earth and then the universe," while deliberately avoiding any direct commentary on Fury out of respect for his own opponent. He did, however, add that he would be unfazed if "The Gypsy King" were sitting ringside. "Look at history," Hearn told Sky Sports.
"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 highlight Joshua’s spotless record when it comes to honoring contracts. "What fight has AJ ever signed for that he hasn't competed in? What fight has he ever pulled out of?
He has the most solid résumé and the most professional attitude of any fighter I've ever worked with. Can we say the same about Tyson Fury? No.
That's the reality of the situation." Hearn stressed that the only scenario that could derail the November showdown would be a loss or injury to either man this weekend. "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, adding a hopeful "touch wood" for both fighters. He also reminded fans that Joshua had previously signed to fight Fury, only for the bout to be cancelled due to an arbitration ruling involving Deontay Wilder.
"So don't worry about AJ, he's as game as they come. But we have our doubts about whether Fury will turn up, especially if AJ looks great on Saturday night," Hearn concluded. Beyond the ring, logistical questions linger. Brent Council has yet to be approached about extending Wembley Stadium’s curfew to accommodate a 2 a.m.
ring walk for the Fury‑Joshua clash. Turki Al‑Sheikh, the architect of the all‑British event, has expressed a desire to schedule the fight at a time that suits a global audience and intends to discuss the matter with London’s mayor, Sir Sadiq Khan. The council, which would need to approve any curfew extension, noted that any change would have to be vetted by Wembley’s safety advisory group, of which it is a member.
Wembley Stadium declined to comment when Sky Sports sought a statement on the unannounced event. Hearn suspects Fury’s recent doubts may be another psychological ploy – a classic mind‑game tactic aimed at unsettling his opponent before the first bell.
"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.
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." He added, "There will be mind games. Fury is the self‑professed king of those and he's very good at it as well. Fury will think he can win the fight that way, before the first bell, but I think he will be very disappointed.
AJ is mature enough to deal with that now." Regarding Joshua’s upcoming opponent, Hearn cautioned that while Prenga is relatively unknown, his record of twenty straight knockout victories makes him a dangerous adversary. "Joshua is a great finisher, he's done that his whole career," Hearn observed.
"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 noted that two long‑time members of Joshua’s team will be absent from the Saturday event, adding emotional weight to the fight. "I'm sure he'll be fighting for them as well," Hearn said.
"Then there's the challenge of a big, strong, heavy‑handed, motivated fighter who's coming to change his life. 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 remains confident that the November bout will happen, provided both fighters stay healthy and victorious this weekend.
He believes Joshua’s track record of honoring commitments far outweighs any perceived unreliability on Fury’s part, and he views any public doubts from Fury as likely strategic mind‑games rather than genuine concerns. The heavyweight world now watches both warm‑up fights closely, aware that the outcome could set the tone for what promises to be one of the sport’s most eagerly awaited match‑ups in years.