The long-awaited, all-British heavyweight super-fight between Anthony Joshua and Tyson Fury could finally be on the horizon, with a potential date in 2026 now being discussed by key figures in the sport.
The Road to a Potential Showdown
For the entirety of their decorated careers, Joshua and Fury have been destined to collide, yet the bout has remained frustratingly out of reach for boxing fans. The path to a potential meeting has taken several new turns following Joshua's recent victory. On December 20, AJ secured a decisive sixth-round knockout against YouTube star-turned-boxer Jake Paul at the Kaseya Center in Miami. The finishing blow was a powerful right hand that reportedly fractured Paul's jaw in multiple places.
In the immediate aftermath, Joshua did not hesitate to call out his great rival. Speaking to Ariel Helwani in his post-fight interview, he issued a direct challenge: "If Tyson Fury is as serious as he thinks he is, and he wants to put that on his Twitter fingers, and put on some gloves and come and fight one of the realest fighters out there that will take on any challenge, step in the ring with me next if you're a real bad boy."
Promoters Plot the Course for 2026
Joshua's promoter, Eddie Hearn, swiftly confirmed that the Fury fight is the ultimate target. He stated, "Listen, we want the Tyson Fury fight, of course. That's the fight - and that's the biggest fight in boxing... 2026 back to the real business. Tyson Fury and the world heavyweight championship."
On the other side, Fury's promoter, Frank Warren of Queensberry Promotions, had already been eyeing a late summer date for the colossal clash. Ahead of the Joshua-Paul bout, Warren told Sky Sports News, "There's been some talks going on, there's nothing been signed yet, but Tyson's indicated if it's the right deal, he'll definitely do it." However, a significant complication remains: Fury announced his retirement from boxing in January 2025 following back-to-back defeats to Oleksandr Usyk.
Mapping Out Joshua's Path Forward
Reports indicate that Anthony Joshua's schedule is being carefully constructed to lead towards the Fury fight. It is suggested he will first return to action in Saudi Arabia on February 14, 2026. Should he emerge victorious, the stage would then be set for a summer blockbuster against Fury.
Frank Warren has also provocatively suggested other domestic options for Joshua in the meantime, telling the Stomping Ground podcast: "If he really wants to fight, fight Moses [Itauma] now, fight Fabio Wardley now. Do it tomorrow, sign it tomorrow. If he says yes, on Christmas Day, I'll go round there, and we’ll get the deal done. Of course, I'll do it."
While Jake Paul claimed in a podcast appearance that he 'wobbled' Joshua during their fight, the dominant nature of AJ's knockout victory has only strengthened calls for him to finally settle his rivalry with Fury. All eyes are now on whether 'The Gypsy King' will reverse his retirement decision, potentially setting up the most lucrative and historic fight in British boxing history for 2026.
