Anthony Joshua and Tyson Fury told to agree certain terms before mega-fight
Saudi boxing supremo Turki Alalshikh is plotting an all-British showdown between Anthony Joshua and Tyson Fury next year - but both heavyweights must get through warm-up bouts first.
Joshua hasn't stepped into the ring since Daniel Dubois delivered a devastating knockout blow last September at Wembley, scuppering his bid to become a three-time world champion. Although the pair appeared poised for an instant rematch, 'AJ' required additional recovery time following an injury sustained during their original clash. The 35-year-old has subsequently undergone elbow surgery and is eyeing a comeback before the end of the year.
Meanwhile, Fury hung up his gloves earlier this year after consecutive defeats to Oleksandr Usyk last year. However, he has since performed a drastic U-turn and is seemingly set to fight again. During a recent appearance on 'The Boxing Voice,' Alalshikh is eager to make the dust-up between the British heavyweights.
Speaking on 'The Boxing Voice', Alalshikh expressed his determination to make the clash between the pair. The two stars have exchanged verbal jabs over the years, but are yet to resolve their rivalry inside the ring.
While the Saudi boxing chief admits they are trying to host the fight in 2026 - both men would need to get through tune-up fights first. "Anthony Joshua and Tyson Fury next year, we are trying to do it and we are thinking about it," he revealed. "Why? Because they are both coming off losses. It's to build it up."
Fury has been teasing fans with the prospect of a boxing comeback, regularly posting training updates on his social media platforms. Earlier this month, Alalshikh confirmed the two-time heavyweight champion's return on X, previously known as Twitter. He excitedly announced: "The 'Gypsy King' will be back! ! ! I talked with him, and I have his word to have him in Riyadh Season in 2026... We have a rabbit to hunt!"
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Alalshikh's announcement sent shockwaves through the boxing community. Shortly after, Fury himself declared he would take on Usyk for a third bout, even specifying the date and venue. On Instagram, Fury posted a fight poster featuring himself and Usyk, captioning it: "April 18, 2026 Wembley Stadium. The trilogy! UK. contact @spencerbrownmrgoldstar for tickets."
Frank Warren, Fury's promoter, has also spoken about the fighter's future, suggesting a U-turn on retirement plans. Speaking to talkSPORT, Warren mentioned: "He's been talking about it a little bit. Some calls took place and there's an agreement made, that's all I can tell you at the moment."
The 73-year-old added: "He has retired, up until he said he was coming back. Look, Frank Sinatra retired a lot. Like I've said to you before if that's how [Tyson] feels in the moment, that's how he feels. We'll see what happens, but he feels he wants it fight Usyk again."
When is Anthony Joshua's next fight?
Joshua is expected to make his return to the ring before the end of the year. Eddie Hearn has recently revealed that 'AJ' is now looking to move on with his career after continuously calling for a fight with Fury, but still hopes to one day settle the score with the 'Gypsy King' before calling it a day.
In an interview with Sky Sports, when asked about the future of Joshua, Hearn replied: "Yeah, good, he had that operation recently... that elbow surgery, which went very well. You will see him return in October, November or December. We're looking for that opponent in the top ten. Deontay Wilder I think fights next week.
"I know he is a name that has been mentioned. For AJ, like I said, 2026 I think could be his last year in the sport and it seemed to get headlined, but what else do you expect? That is three or four fights away. He cannot go on forever! He is motivated. Physically feeling good now to return to camp and ready for one little last roll to this incredible career.
"Hopefully that involves a fight with Mr (Tyson) Fury. But after he is done parading his kilt around on Netflix, hopefully he joins us in the ring in 2026. It would be an incredible occasion for British boxing. But first thing is first, AJ will return during that period this year and obviously he must win and that performance will tell us a lot about the future of Anthony Joshua."
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