Tyson Fury vs Anthony Joshua has long been regarded as one of boxing’s most anticipated heavyweight showdowns, and the long-awaited clash now appears closer than ever to becoming a reality.
According to The Ring, plans are in place for the former heavyweight champions to meet in a blockbuster bout set to headline a Riyadh Season event in 2026. However, before that showdown can take place, both fighters are expected to compete in separate fights in early 2026.
Joshua is also scheduled to face YouTuber-turned-boxer Jake Paul on December 19 in an eight-round contest on Netflix in Miami.
Fury, standing at 6-foot-9, would be returning from retirement following back-to-back defeats to current unified and former two-time undisputed heavyweight champion Oleksandr Usyk. Meanwhile, 36-year-old Joshua is seeking a strong comeback after suffering a fifth-round knockout loss to former IBF champion Daniel Dubois.
This is not the first time a Fury-Joshua fight has been within reach. In 2021, the British rivals were close to meeting in a bout to crown an undisputed heavyweight champion. Those plans collapsed after Deontay Wilder activated his rematch clause following Fury’s stoppage victory in their second fight, forcing Fury into a trilogy bout while Joshua faced Usyk instead.
Joshua (28-4, 25 KOs) went on to lose a unanimous decision to Usyk, while Fury (34-2-1, 24 KOs) recovered from two knockdowns to stop Wilder in the 11th round in a Fight of the Year contender to retain his WBC title. Usyk later defeated Joshua again in their rematch before going on to beat Fury twice in 2024, with the first win making him the undisputed heavyweight champion.
Fury vs Joshua has been teased throughout their careers, and even without world titles at stake, it remains one of the biggest fights boxing can offer. Should the two finally share the ring next year, it would close a long-running chapter in heavyweight boxing. If not, it risks becoming one of the sport’s greatest modern-day what-ifs.
