Promoter Eddie Hearn reminded everyone that Anthony Joshua has never backed out of a bout, countering recent statements from Tyson Fury suggesting the much‑anticipated all‑British heavyweight showdown might fall through. Both fighters are set to step into the ring this week as a final test before the promised November clash.
Joshua will face Kristian Prenga, while Fury is scheduled to fight Mariusz Wach, and both matches have been billed as must‑win warm‑ups. The long‑awaited encounter between the two British titans is still slated for November, although the exact date and venue remain undecided.
In a recent Sky Sports interview, Fury hinted that he might be open to fighting another opponent later in the year, casting a shadow over the planned showdown with Joshua. Hearn quickly rebutted, arguing that Fury, not Joshua, is the more likely candidate to withdraw based on his history of pulling out of fights. Ahead of his bout with Prenga on Saturday, Joshua told reporters that his goal was to "conquer the earth and then the universe," but he deliberately avoided mentioning Fury out of respect for his upcoming opponent.
He did add, however, that he would be unfazed if "The Gypsy King" were sitting 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 continued, "What fight has AJ ever signed for that he's not competed in?
What fight has AJ ever pulled out of? He's got 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 emphasized that Joshua has already faced every contender he could have and even previously signed a contract to fight Fury, which fell through 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," he said. The logistical side of the fight is also under discussion. Brent Council has yet to be approached about extending Wembley Stadium's curfew to allow a 2 a.m.
ring walk for the Fury‑Joshua showdown. Organizer Turki Al‑Sheikh has expressed a desire to schedule the bout at a time that suits a global audience and plans to speak 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 for comment, Wembley declined to comment on unannounced events. Whether Fury’s reservations are genuine or simply a psychological tactic remains to be seen.
Hearn suspects the latter, suggesting that Fury might be trying to get inside Joshua’s head before the fight. "This build‑up is going to be epic," Hearn 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." According to Hearn, the only things that could derail the November bout are a loss or an injury to either fighter 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 explained. "Touch wood, especially the first one, hopefully neither of those will happen." Prenga, Joshua’s opponent, is somewhat of an unknown quantity, but his record shows 20 professional victories, all by knockout, prompting Hearn to urge caution. "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 continued, "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. 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 Joshua will fulfill his commitments and that the Fury‑Joshua clash will eventually materialise, provided no unforeseen setbacks occur.
The promoter believes the psychological warfare is part of the sport’s drama and expects both fighters to rise to the occasion, delivering a historic bout that boxing fans worldwide have been waiting for.