Anthony Joshua and Tyson Fury have officially agreed to a highly anticipated fight. The announcement was made by Saudi Arabian boxing chief, Turki Alalsheikh, on social media, with Joshua confirming that he has signed a multi-fight contract. Alalsheikh expressed his excitement, stating, “To my friends in Great Britain – it’s happening. It’s signed.” Joshua is set to face Kristian Prenga in a warm-up bout in Riyadh on July 25.
Fury recently made a successful return to the ring after a 16-month absence, defeating Arslanbek Makhmudov. He disclosed that he had already agreed to fight Joshua, who did not engage in a face-off in Tottenham after Fury’s victory. The potential showdown between Joshua and Fury is scheduled for November, potentially at Wembley, and is expected to be aired on Netflix.
Following a car accident in Nigeria that resulted in the loss of two close friends, Joshua postponed his return to the ring, originally planned for March. He has been focusing on his training alongside champion Oleksandr Usyk in Ukraine. Usyk, who defeated Joshua twice in recent years, expressed confidence in Joshua’s abilities, stating, “AJ wins against Fury. AJ is the future undisputed heavyweight champion. I believe this because I’ve seen how Anthony is training. He’s a machine.”
Fury expressed confusion over Joshua’s absence at the face-off, acknowledging the challenges both fighters have faced in their careers. Despite the delays and uncertainties, Fury remains eager for the long-awaited bout, emphasizing the significance of the potential match.