Tyson Fury and Anthony Joshua have reportedly reached an agreement to face each other in an anticipated heavyweight bout, with significant details now disclosed.
Initial reports in December hinted at the resolution of their long-standing rivalry inside the boxing ring in 2026. However, shortly after triumphing over Jake Paul in a knockout victory during the recent festive season, Joshua was involved in a tragic car accident in Nigeria, resulting in the tragic deaths of his close friends Sina Ghami and Lateef ‘Latz’ Ayodele.
Concerns arose over Joshua’s future in boxing following his near-death experience, but the former two-time heavyweight champion is now back in light training, fueling discussions of a potential comeback to the ring this summer. Speculations suggest a potential bout against former foe Dillian Whyte before a showdown with Fury.
Renowned boxing journalist Gareth A Davies disclosed that both Fury and Joshua have formally agreed to the bout. Speaking on talkSPORT, Davies confirmed the fight is ‘signed’ and ‘agreed’, stating, “The Fury-Joshua fight is signed. Okay, it is signed in the background. I’ve got that on good authority.”
Davies further indicated that the highly anticipated match is likely to be broadcast live on Netflix, potentially occurring either ‘late in the year’ or ‘next year’, with Joshua eyeing a return to action in ‘June or July’. He emphasized, “It’s with the big money people. It’ll be on Netflix. It’s on the cards and it’s going to happen.”
Netflix is set to showcase Fury’s comeback on April 11, following his brief retirement announcement last year. The ‘Gypsy King’ is scheduled to face Russian knockout artist Arslanbek Makhmudov at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium in London. Netflix’s emergence as a significant player in boxing has been evident with broadcasts of high-profile fights, including Paul vs Joshua, Canelo Alvarez vs Terence Crawford, Katie Taylor vs Amanda Serrano, and Paul vs Mike Tyson.
Joshua is nearing a full training comeback, with talks of a potential return to the ring later this year. Despite recent challenges, his promoter Eddie Hearn remains optimistic about the possibility of a British heavyweight showdown between Fury and Joshua. Hearn explained, “Originally the plan with AJ was for him to fight in March and then fight Tyson Fury in August. He’s not going to fight Tyson Fury next; he’s going to come back, I believe, in late summer.”
Hearn is exploring options for Joshua’s return to the ring, aiming for a potential fight in July, albeit cautious about the risks involved post his recent ordeal. While open to the Fury matchup, Hearn hints at a probable showdown toward the end of the year or early 2027.