The long-awaited, all-British heavyweight super-fight between Tyson Fury and Anthony Joshua has been plunged into serious doubt following a tragic car crash involving Joshua in Nigeria.
Tragedy Strikes in Nigeria
Anthony Joshua was involved in a serious road accident near Lagos on Tuesday, 31st December 2025. The collision, which involved the Jeep Joshua was travelling in and a stationary truck, resulted in the tragic deaths of two of his team members, Latif Ayodele and Sina Ghami.
Joshua himself was pulled from the wreckage and taken to hospital, where he is being treated for injuries sustained in the crash. The 36-year-old former world champion had only recently knocked out social media star Jake Paul in a bout just before Christmas.
Warren Casts Doubt on Mega-Fight Plans
Speaking exclusively to The Mirror, Tyson Fury's promoter, Frank Warren, addressed the immediate impact on the proposed £100 million showdown. He effectively ruled out any chance of the fight happening in early 2026 as had been tentatively planned.
"I can't see that fight happening now, certainly not until very late in the New Year," Warren stated. He emphasised that boxing is the last thing on Joshua's mind as he deals with the loss of close friends and recovers from his injuries.
"Well, boxing will certainly be the last thing on his mind, right now," Warren said. "He's obviously lost two team members who were good, close friends... I don't know the extent of his injuries, but it's also how mentally this will affect him."
Uncertain Future for Both Heavyweight Stars
The crash creates a double layer of uncertainty for the British boxing scene. For Joshua, the timeline for a return to the ring is now completely unclear. There had been suggestions of a February fight before a potential Fury clash, but those plans are now on hold indefinitely.
For Fury, the path forward is also murky. The 'Gypsy King' has not fought since his two defeats to Oleksandr Usyk in 2024 and Warren revealed he has not yet discussed a comeback with the 37-year-old.
"I've not spoken to Tyson at all," Warren admitted. "He was on holiday... Tyson is a very, very wealthy guy. His family don't want him to fight, but he could change his mind anytime."
Warren did, however, draw a parallel to Fury's own past struggles, suggesting boxing could be a focus for recovery. "I know it's very different, but you look at it with Tyson when he was going through his trials and tribulations. It was boxing that got him back on track."
In the immediate aftermath of the crash, Fury was among the first to offer public condolences. On Instagram, he wrote: "This is so sad. May god give them a good bed in heaven," adding in a separate comment, "There is no tomorrow. live, love, and give."
The boxing world now waits for further updates on Joshua's condition, while the dream fight that has been years in the making appears to have been pushed back once more, overshadowed by profound personal tragedy.
