The two days which could make or break Fury-AJ
Tyson Fury and Anthony Joshua are expected to meet later this year in what is being billed as British boxing’s biggest fight, but both must first win separate warm-up bouts on consecutive days. Fury faces Mariusz Wach in Thailand on Friday, while Joshua fights Kristian Prenga in Saudi Arabia on Saturday; their signed agreement remains dependent on neither suffering defeat, injury or another setback. The weekend therefore represents a final practical obstacle to a long-discussed heavyweight contest that has repeatedly failed to materialise.
Fury, 37, is returning after outpointing Arslanbek Makhmudov in April, and his bout with the 46-year-old Wach is portrayed as more of a promotional event than a necessary sporting test, with Netflix documentary cameras present. Joshua, 36, has not fought since a car crash in Nigeria last December that killed two close friends and left him facing both emotional and physical recovery. Promoter Eddie Hearn says Joshua’s training and rehabilitation have shown he is ready to return, while a face-off in Saudi Arabia is anticipated if both fighters win.
- Fury and Joshua must win warm-up fights to secure their expected super-fight.
- Fury boxes Wach in Thailand; Joshua faces Prenga in Saudi Arabia.
- Joshua returns after recovering from a fatal car crash.
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Tyson Fury and Anthony Joshua are set to fight later this year in what many consider British boxing's biggest heavyweight bout. Before that can happen, however, both fighters must win separate warm-up matches this weekend—Fury in Thailand on Friday and Joshua in Saudi Arabia on Saturday. If either loses, gets injured, or faces another setback, the agreement for their main fight will not proceed.
Fury, aged 37, last fought in April when he outpointed Arslanbek Makhmudov. Joshua, aged 36, has not fought since December, when a car crash in Nigeria killed two close friends and caused him serious physical and emotional trauma. Fury's bout this weekend features Netflix documentary cameras and is positioned more as a promotional event, whilst Joshua is working to return after his recovery period.
The heavyweight showdown between these two fighters has been discussed for years but has repeatedly failed to materialise. If both win their weekend fights, promoter Eddie Hearn is planning a face-off in Saudi Arabia to build towards the main event. The two days of competition therefore represent the final practical obstacle between the fighters and what has long been anticipated as a significant boxing contest.