Eddie Hearn, the British boxing promoter, has taken a firm stance against recent comments made by Tyson Fury suggesting that his highly anticipated showdown with Anthony Joshua might not materialise. Hearn reminded fans and the media that, historically, Joshua has never backed out of a bout, and he challenged Fury’s credibility by pointing to the latter’s own record of fight withdrawals. Both heavyweights are slated to step back into the ring this week as a final test before the supposed November clash.
Joshua will face Kristian Prenga, while Fury is set to battle Mariusz Wach. These contests have been billed as "must‑win" warm‑up fights, designed to confirm that each fighter is in peak condition for the ultimate British heavyweight showdown. The long‑awaited meeting between the two British champions has yet to receive an official date or venue, but the buzz surrounding it has intensified after Fury, in a recent Sky Sports interview, hinted that he might be open to fighting another opponent later this year if the Joshua bout does not come together.
Hearn responded swiftly, arguing that Fury, not Joshua, is the more likely candidate to pull a no‑show based on his past behaviour. In the lead‑up to his own bout with Prenga, Joshua addressed the press with a confident, almost cinematic statement: he aims to "conquer the earth and then the universe." He deliberately avoided mentioning Fury, saying he did not want to disrespect his own opponent.
Nevertheless, he added that he would be unbothered if Fury – often referred to as "The Gypsy King" – were to sit ringside during his fight. "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 praise Joshua’s professionalism, noting that the former champion has never signed a contract for a fight he didn’t subsequently contest. "What fight has AJ ever pulled out of? None.
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 asserted. Hearn reminded viewers that Joshua had previously agreed 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 added, implying that Fury might be using psychological tactics to unsettle his opponent. Logistical questions have also surfaced. Brent Council has yet to be approached about extending Wembley Stadium’s curfew, which currently ends at 11 p.m., to accommodate a potential 2 a.m.
ring walk for the Fury‑Joshua clash. Turki Al‑Sheikh, the mastermind behind the all‑British bout, has expressed a desire to schedule the fight at a time that suits a global audience, and he plans to discuss the matter with London Mayor Sir Sadiq Khan.
Any extension would need approval from Wembley’s safety advisory group, of which the council is a member. When Sky Sports sought comment, Wembley declined to comment on unannounced events.
Hearn speculated that Fury’s recent doubts could simply be a mind‑game strategy, a classic move by the self‑styled "king of mind games" to gain a psychological edge 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." According to Hearn, the only realistic scenarios that could derail the November fight are a loss or an injury to either fighter in their upcoming weekend bouts. "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 warned, adding a hopeful "touch wood" for both athletes. Prenga, Joshua’s opponent, remains a relatively unknown quantity, yet all 20 of his professional victories have come by knockout, making him a dangerous adversary.
Hearn cautioned that while Joshua is a natural finisher, he must approach the fight with discipline. "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 also highlighted the emotional stakes for Joshua, noting that two long‑time members of his team will not be present, and that Joshua will likely fight for them as well as for himself. "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," Hearn concluded. In summary, Eddie Hearn has firmly positioned Anthony Joshua as the more dependable fighter, while casting doubt on Tyson Fury’s willingness to honour the November showdown.
The upcoming warm‑up fights will serve as the final litmus test for both men, and unless an unforeseen injury or upset occurs, the much‑anticipated British heavyweight clash appears set to proceed, promising a dramatic narrative both inside and outside the ring.