The long-awaited British heavyweight super-fight between Anthony Joshua and Tyson Fury, a bout first discussed over a decade ago, has been plunged into fresh and tragic uncertainty. The potential clash, which has tantalised boxing fans for years, now faces its most significant hurdle following a fatal car crash involving Joshua in Nigeria and subsequent claims from his family that he intends to retire.
A Rivalry Forged Over a Decade
Anthony Joshua first publicly called for a fight with Tyson Fury back in 2015, just after his knockout victory over Dillian Whyte. At the time, Joshua was a rising star, having turned professional in 2013 after winning Olympic gold in London the previous year. Fury, meanwhile, had just cemented his own elite status by dethroning the long-reigning champion Wladimir Klitschko in Germany to claim the WBA, IBF, WBO, and IBO world titles.
Joshua stated after the Whyte fight: “We’ll do it in our own time. I’d fight Tyson Fury now but it would be a hard fight. When I’m ready, I’ll make it an easy fight.” This marked the beginning of a public back-and-forth that has spanned the entirety of their glittering careers. Joshua would become a world champion himself in 2016 by stopping Charles Martin, setting the stage for a potential unification bout.
Negotiations came closest to success in 2021, but the deal famously collapsed due to Deontay Wilder's contractual right to a trilogy fight with Fury. While Fury defeated Wilder for a second time, the momentum for a Joshua fight dissipated, leaving fans waiting.
Recent Hopes and a Devastating Setback
Following Fury's back-to-back defeats to Oleksandr Usyk and a brief retirement announcement in January 2025, hopes were rekindled. The 37-year-old 'Gypsy King' performed a U-turn and expressed a clear desire to face Joshua, with reports last month suggesting a summer blockbuster had been agreed, pending successful tune-up fights for both men.
However, these plans have been violently derailed. Last week, Anthony Joshua was involved in a tragic car crash near Lagos, Nigeria, which resulted in the deaths of two of his close friends. The physical and mental toll on the former two-time heavyweight champion is currently unknown, casting a profound shadow over his immediate boxing future.
Fury's promoter, Frank Warren, acknowledged the severity of the situation, telling The Mirror: "Well, boxing will certainly be the last thing on his mind, right now... I don't know the extent of his injuries, but it's also how mentally this will affect him."
Retirement Rumours and an Uncertain Future
Adding to the uncertainty, Joshua's uncle, Adedamola Joshua, claimed this week that the boxer has informed his family of his decision to retire. He told The Punch newspaper: “The major thing there is that he has retired from boxing... Now that he has said that he’s leaving while the ovation is highest, we are happy.”
However, it is understood that no official retirement decision has been communicated by Joshua or his management team, casting doubt on the familial claims. The boxing world is now left in a state of limbo, awaiting official word on Joshua's condition and his intentions after the horrific accident.
The saga of Joshua versus Fury, a fight ten years in the making, now hangs in the balance more precariously than ever. What seemed like an inevitable collision course has met with a profound human tragedy, leaving the dream of this all-British super-fight facing its most formidable opponent yet: an uncertain and heartbreaking reality.
