Promoter Eddie Hearn reminded everyone that history shows Anthony Joshua has never backed out of a bout when he addressed Tyson Fury’s recent insinuations that the all‑British heavyweight showdown might fall through. Both Joshua and Fury are slated to step back into the ring this week – Joshua against Kristian Prenga and Fury versus Mariusz Wach – in what promoters have billed as essential, must‑win warm‑up fights before the long‑awaited clash.
The two British titans are expected to finally meet in November, though a specific date and venue have yet to be confirmed. In a recent Sky Sports interview, Fury hinted that the fight could be in jeopardy, saying he was prepared to face "somebody else" later in the year if the bout with Joshua does not materialise.
Hearn fired back, arguing that Fury, not Joshua, is the bigger flight risk given his history of pulling out of high‑profile matches. "Look at the record," Hearn told Sky Sports.
"If you want to pick the fighter who is more reliable, the choice is obvious." Ahead of his own bout against Prenga on Saturday, Joshua told reporters that his ambition is to "conquer the earth and then the universe," but he deliberately avoided mentioning Fury out of respect for his immediate opponent. He did add, however, that he would be unfazed if The Gypsy King were seated ringside. "Check the facts, check the résumé," Hearn continued. "What fight has AJ ever signed for and then not fought?
None. What fight has he ever withdrawn from? Zero.
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." He reminded listeners that Joshua had previously signed to fight Fury, only for Fury to pull out because of 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 said. Meanwhile, logistical hurdles remain. Brent Council has yet to be approached about extending Wembley Stadium’s curfew to accommodate a potential 2 a.m. ring walk for the Fury‑vs‑Joshua clash.
Turki Al‑Sheikh, the architect behind the all‑British bout, has expressed a desire to schedule the fight at a time that suits a global audience and plans to discuss the matter with London Mayor Sir Sadiq Khan. Any extension beyond Wembley’s current 11 p.m. curfew would need approval from the stadium’s safety advisory group, of which the council is a member. When Sky Sports reached out, Wembley declined to comment on unannounced events.
Whether Fury’s doubts have substance remains to be seen, but Hearn suspects they may be another example of the "Gypsy King" attempting to gain a psychological edge before the fight. "This build‑up is going to be epic," he said. "We know the fight itself will be epic.
In and out of the ring, this is going to be a box‑office hit. We've waited a long time for this." He added, "It’ll be spicy, funny and compelling – two very different characters. God willing they both win on Friday and Saturday and we can finally get this thing on." Hearn also warned that mind games are part of Fury’s arsenal. "Fury calls himself the king of mind games and he’s very good at it.
He’ll try to win before the first bell, but I think he’ll be disappointed. AJ is mature enough to handle that now," Hearn asserted. According to Hearn, the only scenarios that could derail the November showdown are a defeat or an injury to either fighter this weekend.
"The only thing that will 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 a relatively unknown challenger, but all 20 of his professional victories have come by knockout, prompting Hearn to advise caution. "Joshua is a great finisher; he’s done that his whole career. If he sees an opening, he’ll seize it.
But I think it’s a dangerous fight. Everyone talks about it being routine for AJ, but a lot has happened in his life. He’s had to come back from huge physical, mental and emotional setbacks." He noted that Joshua will have a lot on his mind on Saturday, especially with two longtime members of his team absent from the corner. "He’ll be fighting for them as well," Hearn said.
"Then there’s the challenge of a big, strong, heavy‑handed, motivated fighter who wants to change his life. AJ has to take him out before he takes you out. That’s heavyweight boxing. Prenga is dangerous.
If he lands a clean shot on the chin, you’ll feel it. AJ must stay disciplined and switched on." In summary, Hearn remains confident that the Joshua‑Fury fight will eventually happen, provided neither combatant suffers a setback in their upcoming warm‑up bouts.
He believes the psychological warfare and logistical negotiations are merely part of the drama leading up to what could become one of the biggest heavyweight events in recent memory.