Eddie Hearn announces Anthony Joshua’s intention to face Tyson Fury in November.
Anthony Joshua is set to make his return to the ring in July, with plans to subsequently face Tyson Fury later in 2026, as confirmed by promoter Eddie Hearn.
The targeted timeframe for the Joshua vs. Fury match is now November.
Following his victory over Arslanbek Makhmudov on Saturday, Fury publicly challenged Joshua, a call that Joshua declined to accept.
While Fury claimed he has signed for the bout and urged Joshua not to postpone their encounter, Hearn has indicated that discussions are ongoing with Saudi Arabian boxing figure Turki Alalshikh regarding a two-fight agreement—one in the summer and the other against Fury.
Hearn anticipates that an agreement will eventually be finalized, but noted that nothing has been confirmed yet.
“My instructions from AJ are to make the fight,” Hearn stated to reporters on Tuesday.
“When you receive a contract, it’s typical to respond with various points. Nothing significant, just some details about who he will fight in July, the timing, and the location of the fight. There are still aspects to negotiate, but I wouldn’t categorize them as ‘sticking points.’
Hearn mentioned that fans can expect Joshua to face an opponent of a “similar level” to Makhmudov in the middle of the year before taking on Fury.
Joshua prefers to have a fight before facing Fury due to his inactivity—having only participated in two bouts over the past 18 months—and his involvement in a car accident in December. Although Joshua suffered only minor injuries and is anticipated to be cleared for full training in the next two weeks, two of his close friends tragically lost their lives in the incident.
On Saturday, Joshua expressed his intention to fight Fury but refrained from making any commitments until contracts are finalized.
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“I’m going to be completely honest, there’s a negotiation process involved. I’ve sat at this table with him many times,” Joshua remarked on Netflix.
“I was involved in a serious incident about four months ago. Therefore, I need to carefully assess my return to the ring. But I’m here. I’m staying focused on the sport. There are significant matters occurring in my life. I’m not avoiding anyone.”
Wembley Stadium in London and Croke Park in Dublin have been suggested as possible venues for the Fury fight.
However, Hearn has largely dismissed the Irish location, considering November is the new target date for the match and an outdoor venue would be impractical in Dublin during that season. Both Joshua and Fury are former two-time heavyweight champions but have yet to face each other, despite years of exchanges between them. They nearly reached an agreement for a 2021 fight that ultimately fell apart—a matchup that would have been for the undisputed title.
