Eddie Hearn has broken his silence following the confirmation of a long-awaited clash between Anthony Joshua and Tyson Fury. The Matchroom chief took to social media to announce that the fight is now "signed, sealed, delivered." The bombshell news emerged this afternoon, shortly after Joshua's next opponent was revealed.
Joshua's Path to Fury
The former world champion and Olympic gold medallist will first face Albanian boxer Kristian Prenga on July 25. After that bout, Joshua will turn his attention to a showdown with the Gypsy King later in 2026. While an exact date has not been set, the fight is expected to take place in the final quarter of the year.
This matchup has been more than a decade in the making. An undisputed world heavyweight clash between the pair was cancelled in 2021 after an arbitration judge ruled that Fury must face Deontay Wilder in a trilogy bout, with Wilder rejecting a step-aside payment. Joshua was also ordered to defend his WBO title against Oleksandr Usyk, a fight he lost. Fury went on to defeat Wilder, while Joshua lost a rematch to Usyk.
Negotiations for a bout in 2022 fell through after Fury imposed tight deadlines on contract signing. However, this year, the process has been smoother, as Hearn confirmed on social media.
Hearn's Announcement
The Matchroom chief uploaded a picture of himself, Saudi Arabian General Entertainment Authority chairman Turki Alalshikh, and Joshua smiling, with the caption: "Signed, sealed, delivered! AJ v Fury is on!"
Joshua has already begun mind games, stating: "It's no secret I've taken some time to consolidate and rebuild to be ready for stepping back into the ring and this is the next step on that journey. I'm looking forward to competing and picking up where I left off. As I said. The landlord will collect his rent. That is certain."
Fury has not commented specifically but reposted Alalshikh's confirmation on X. After defeating Russian giant Arslanbek Makhmudov via unanimous decision earlier this month, Fury issued a challenge to Joshua, shouting: "I want you, AJ, Anthony Joshua. Let's give the fight fans what they want - the Battle of Britain. I challenge you Anthony Joshua to fight me the Gypsy King next. Do you accept my challenge?"
Prenga Test Ahead
Before facing Fury, Joshua must overcome Kristian Prenga, a 35-year-old knockout artist with a 20-1 record, all 20 wins coming by knockout. His only loss was in February 2017 against Giovanni Auriemma in the Netherlands. Hearn had frequently stated Joshua would have a warm-up fight before facing Fury, especially after Joshua's recent lucrative bout with Jake Paul and surviving a horrific car crash in Nigeria that claimed the lives of his friends Sina Ghami and Latif Ayodele.
