The long-awaited British heavyweight super-fight between Anthony Joshua and Tyson Fury faces fresh and tragic uncertainty, over a decade after the rivalry first ignited. The potential blockbuster, which fans have craved for years, was reportedly agreed for this summer, but a devastating car crash involving Joshua in Nigeria has thrown those plans into serious doubt.
A Rivalry Born Over a Decade Ago
The roots of this epic showdown stretch back to 2015. Fresh from a knockout victory over Dillian Whyte that cemented his status as a rising star, Joshua immediately turned his attention to Fury. "I’d fight Tyson Fury now but it would be a hard fight," Joshua stated at the time. "When I’m ready, I’ll make it an easy fight."
This call-out came just a month after Fury had achieved his own career-defining moment, dethroning the long-reigning champion Wladimir Klitschko in Germany to claim the WBA, IBF, WBO, and IBO world titles. While Joshua would become a world champion himself in 2016 by stopping Charles Martin, the stage was set for a colossal domestic clash that has tantalised the boxing world ever since.
Near Misses and Renewed Hope
The fight came closest to happening in 2021, only to collapse due to Deontay Wilder's contractual right to a trilogy bout with Fury. Despite both men enjoying glittering careers as multi-time world champions, the elusive match-up remained just out of reach. Fury's brief retirement announcement in January 2025, following two defeats to Oleksandr Usyk, seemed to end the dream for good.
However, in a familiar pattern, Fury performed a U-turn. By late 2025, reports emerged that the two British giants had finally agreed to meet in the ring in a summer 2026 showdown, pending successful tune-up fights. The collision course that began over ten years prior appeared to be reaching its inevitable conclusion.
Tragedy Strikes, Casting the Future in Shadow
Those plans are now on hold following a tragic car crash near Lagos, Nigeria, last week, which resulted in the deaths of two of Joshua's close friends. The former two-time champion was also involved in the incident, though the full extent of his injuries is not publicly known.
Fury's promoter, Frank Warren, expressed his condolences and uncertainty about the fight's future. "Boxing will certainly be the last thing on his mind, right now," Warren told The Mirror. "He's obviously lost two team members who were good, close friends... I don't know the extent of his injuries, but it's also how mentally this will affect him."
Further complicating matters, a man claiming to be Joshua's uncle, Adedamola Joshua, told The Punch newspaper that the boxer had informed his family of his retirement. However, it is understood that no official retirement decision has been made by Joshua or his team.
The boxing world now waits with bated breath, not for a fight announcement, but for news on Anthony Joshua's recovery and wellbeing. The dream of finally seeing Joshua and Fury share a ring, a narrative over a decade in the making, is now secondary to the personal tragedy the athlete is enduring.
