Battle of Britain: Anthony Joshua vs. Tyson Fury Fight Officially Confirmed
Kyiv • UNN
Eddie Hearn has confirmed a deal for a bout between the British boxers at the end of the year. Prior to this, Joshua will step into the ring against Cristian Prangi on July 25.
Anthony Joshua and Tyson Fury will meet in a long-awaited heavyweight mega-fight later this year, UNN reports, citing Sky News.
Details
Joshua will return to the ring on July 25 in Riyadh against Albanian heavyweight Kristian Prenga, before facing his British rival.
Eddie Hearn, Joshua's promoter, wrote on social media: "Signed, sealed and delivered! AJ vs Fury is happening!"
He called it "the biggest deal we've ever done, but more importantly, the one we've always wanted."
"The most important year of AJ's career lies ahead, the comeback is happening," the promoter wrote.
Hearn, who did not confirm the date or venue for the fight, previously told Sky Sports they were planning to hold it in November.
There are hopes for another fight at a British stadium, which will be shown on Netflix.
Context
Ring Magazine reported on social media on Monday that the fight is "already a done deal" and will take place in the "fourth quarter of 2026."
Joshua, 36, and Fury, 37, are two of Britain's most famous boxers, and after a decade of trying to negotiate a bout while they were still in their prime, they will meet in a fight Fury has dubbed the "Battle of Britain."
Fury first became world heavyweight champion when he sensationally defeated Wladimir Klitschko in 2015.
Joshua turned professional after winning gold at the 2012 London Olympics and rose rapidly through the ranks, but by the time he won his first championship belt in 2016, Fury had already stepped away from the sport.
Later, after Fury's return to the ring and his capture of the WBC world title, they came close to a deal for an undisputed heavyweight championship fight, as Joshua held the unified IBF, WBO, and WBA titles.
That planned fight collapsed, and Fury fought Deontay Wilder for a third time, while Joshua lost to Ukrainian Oleksandr Usyk, who later defeated Fury.
Fury, who retired again early last year, returned to the sport with a victory over Arslanbek Makhmudov in London earlier this month.
Joshua had been waiting for clearance to resume full training following an injury sustained in a road accident in Nigeria, in which two of his close friends and team members were killed.
The two-time world champion had been on hiatus since his knockout victory over American YouTuber-turned-boxer Jake Paul in Miami on December 19.
According to Sky Sports, he is currently in training camp working with his former rival Usyk, who expressed confidence in AJ's victory over Fury.