Promoter Eddie Hearn has revealed that British boxing superstar Anthony Joshua is firmly on track to face domestic rival Tyson Fury in a colossal heavyweight showdown this November. According to Hearn, Joshua will first undertake a crucial warm-up fight in July to prepare for the historic encounter.
Negotiations Progressing for Blockbuster Bout
Hearn stated that negotiations are actively ongoing, but he is "pretty sure" the two greatest British heavyweights of their generation will finally meet in the ring later this year. This potential clash comes after nearly a decade of speculation and missed opportunities, with both fighters circling each other throughout their careers.
"We received the contracts at the end of last week for their proposal of the two fights and we've been going back and forward and we continue to do that," Hearn explained. "My instructions from AJ are to make the fight and that's what we'll be trying to do."
Fury's Comeback and Joshua's Recent Activity
Tyson Fury made a successful return to boxing after a sixteen-month retirement, defeating Arslanbek Makhmudov on points at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium last Saturday. Following his victory, Fury publicly called out Joshua, who notably refused to enter the ring to escalate tensions for their anticipated bout.
Meanwhile, Anthony Joshua's only fight in the past nineteen months was his December victory over YouTube personality Jake Paul. Hearn emphasised that Joshua needs to get more rounds in the bank, hence the planned July warm-up fight. "I expect us to fight someone of the same kind of level as Makhmudov and then fight Fury," Hearn added.
Contract Details and Scheduling
The proposed deal does not involve Joshua fighting Fury immediately, which Hearn confirmed is their preferred option. "The deal that we've been offered is not to fight Tyson Fury straight away, and that's our preferred option. We're happy with that and we expect to be out in July and then fight Fury in November," he said.
Hearn addressed minor sticking points in the contract negotiations, including:
- Who Joshua will fight in July
- The specific timing of the July bout
- The location for the warm-up fight
He dismissed these as typical contractual discussions rather than major obstacles.
Joshua's Recovery and Training
Anthony Joshua was involved in a serious car accident in Nigeria last December, which tragically killed two of his close friends. The thirty-six-year-old sustained injuries in the crash, but he is expected to receive medical clearance to resume full training within the next fortnight.
Recently, Joshua has been working on his conditioning in Ukraine with current WBC, WBA, and IBF heavyweight champion Oleksandr Usyk. Usyk, who defeated Joshua twice in 2021 and 2022, expressed strong support for his former rival. "AJ wins against Fury. AJ is the future undisputed heavyweight champion. I believe this because I've seen how Anthony is training. He's a machine," Usyk stated.
Netflix Announcement and Usyk's Perspective
While Joshua remained non-committal about the Fury fight, streaming giant Netflix prematurely announced on social media that the richest fight in British boxing history had been agreed. Hearn insisted the broadcaster "jumped the gun" but remains confident the bout will materialise.
Usyk, who faces Dutch kickboxing champion Rico Verhoeven for his WBC title on May 23rd in Giza, Egypt, offered philosophical insight. "I'm a fan of the soccer team Dynamo Kyiv. Sometimes my team lose. But I don't say 'you're bad, you're bad'. I say, 'things happen, this is normal in sport'. We must help each other. If we don't help each other we're not people, we're animals," he remarked.
Notably, Verhoeven had previously agreed to fight Joshua, but those plans were cancelled following Joshua's car accident. As negotiations continue, the boxing world eagerly anticipates what could become one of the most significant heavyweight clashes in British sporting history.
