Tyson Fury could take an interim fight before meeting Anthony Joshua later this year. The heavyweight super-fight is pencilled in to happen before the end of 2026, but Joshua has a warm-up bout scheduled for July 25 in Riyadh, and Fury — who returned to the ring earlier this month after a year-long retirement — may opt for a tune-up of his own, possibly in July.
Promoter Frank Warren told Sky Sports that Fury “may decide he wants to do another fight,” explaining that the champion wants to stay busy and needs focus, and that no firm date for the Joshua showdown has been set because AJ is tied up with the July fight. Warren added that if Joshua were to lose to Kristian Prenga, the little-known Albanian he faces in the summer, it would complicate plans for the Fury matchup. He said they will reassess afterwards and expressed hope that Joshua comes through as expected — calling the July bout a chance to shake off ring rust and any lingering mental effects from the tragic loss of two friends in a car crash.
Assuming both men win their warm-ups, a date would still need to be agreed. Warren suggested October or November as the most likely window, noting Joshua will want to return to camp after his July fight while Fury would prefer an earlier slot — ideally August or September. Venue talks continue, with Wembley Stadium a natural option if the fight stays in the UK, though discussions with overseas partners remain possible.
Warren does not expect negotiations over who is billed as the A-side, or other details like ringwalk order, to derail the deal. He stressed the commercial scale of the event — huge purses and strong demand, helped by Saudi financial backing — and said such issues should be secondary to delivering the fight. One reported curveball, that Saudi backer Turki Alalshikh has requested Dua Lipa perform at the event, was dismissed by Warren as unlikely to block the fight.
Warren concluded by expressing optimism that there will be no major hiccups and that the bout, when confirmed, will be a showpiece that captures public interest.
Watch Chris Billam-Smith vs Ryan Rozicki live on Sky Sports on Saturday June 6.