The Stage is Set for British Boxing's Biggest Ever Fight
The long-awaited, all-British heavyweight super-fight between Tyson Fury and Anthony Joshua is finally on the horizon for 2026, but the 'Gypsy King' has laid down one non-negotiable condition. Fury, who announced his retirement in January after consecutive losses to Oleksandr Usyk, is prepared to end his hiatus for the blockbuster clash, but only if the financial offer is substantial enough to lure him back into the ring.
Money Talks: The One Condition for Fury's Return
According to Fury's promoter, Frank Warren of Queensbury Promotions, the fight's occurrence hinges entirely on the purse. "Tyson has his price. If he gets his price, he’ll be in there to fight him," Warren stated unequivocally in an interview with Sky Sports. He elaborated that the location of the potential bout would also be dictated by the highest bidder, emphasising that professional fighters go where the money is, much like athletes in any other sport.
This development follows reports earlier in December that Fury was preparing for a comeback specifically to face Joshua. Both fighters are expected to have individual tune-up bouts before any potential showdown. Fury, 37, has been hinting at a return over recent months, while Joshua, 36, has just returned to action.
Joshua's Call-Out After Paul Victory
The Watford-born Anthony Joshua set the stage for the potential clash immediately after his victory over YouTuber-turned-boxer Jake Paul in Miami on Friday night. After a somewhat laboured performance, Joshua secured a sixth-round knockout, having dropped Paul twice in the fifth. Seizing the microphone post-fight, Joshua directly challenged his long-time rival.
"And if Tyson Fury is as serious as he thinks he is, and he wants to put down his Twitter fingers and put on some gloves and come out and fight one of the realest fighters that will take on any challenge," Joshua declared. "Step in the ring with me next if you are a real bad boy. Don't do all of that talking 'AJ this, AJ that.' Let's see you in the ring and talk with your fists."
This victory marked Joshua's return following a shocking fifth-round knockout defeat to Daniel Dubois in September 2024.
Warren Confident Fury Would Prevail
Frank Warren, who watched Joshua's performance against Jake Paul, emerged even more confident in Fury's chances should the fight be made. "The version I saw (of Joshua) in his last fight, I would fancy Tyson even more," Warren commented. He pointed out that Joshua was caught by Paul on several occasions, suggesting that Fury's power would be decisive. "Tyson will knock him out. I know he’ll knock him out," Warren predicted.
Adding further fuel to the speculation, British boxing legend Lennox Lewis, while on commentary duty for the Joshua-Paul fight, hinted that an agreement may already be in place. "It's the fight we are waiting for. Both are talking about it, the fight has been signed, so that is what we are waiting for next," Lewis said. "Tyson Fury and Anthony Joshua, one of the biggest fights in British history, it is going to happen."
With the verbal jabs traded for years now turning into serious negotiations centred on a single, financial condition, British fight fans could finally be on the verge of witnessing the historic domestic showdown that has been tipped for so long.
