Tyson Fury and Anthony Joshua are both fighting this weekend in what are tune-up bouts before they finally meet in the ring later this year. Fury will face Mariusz Wach on Friday night in Pattaya, Thailand, where he has relocated his training camp. The fight is not set to be broadcast on any television channel or streaming service; footage will be saved for the third season of At Home with the Furys on Netflix. Only 1,500 spectators are expected to attend.
Fury faces veteran Wach
Wach, a 46-year-old Polish veteran, was dismantled by British boxer Moses Itauma inside two rounds two years ago. Last year, he fought three social media influencers inside an MMA cage in a bizarre handicap match. Fury, who ended his two-year retirement in April with a points win over Arslanbek Makhmudov in London, is expected to have little trouble with Wach.
Joshua headlines Saudi Arabia card
Joshua headlines a more glitzy card in Saudi Arabia on Saturday against Kristian Prenga, a former kickboxer who has fought no one of note in the boxing ring. The fight carries added significance for Joshua as it is his first since the devastating loss of his two close friends, Latif 'Latz' Ayodele and Sina Ghami, who were killed in a car crash in Nigeria less than a week after his victory over Jake Paul in December. Joshua spent the first half of the year recovering physically, mentally and emotionally but dispelled any talk of retirement. 'Boxing is not only good for the competitive side of things; it's quite therapeutic. It gives us purpose,' he said last month. 'That's what it does for me, I know it is the place where I am most comfortable. It gives me a purpose in my life. This is where I'm most comfortable.'
Warm-up fights make sense
Both Joshua and Fury have had difficult years professionally and personally. Since his defeat to Daniel Dubois in September 2024, Joshua's only activity has been a six-round win over Paul. Fury's win over Makhmudov in April was his first fight since his rematch defeat to Oleksandr Usyk in December 2024. The timing of this weekend's fights ensures both remain active and their schedules are perfectly aligned heading into the second half of the year. Promoters Eddie Hearn and Frank Warren have made clear that any slip-ups would likely see the Joshua vs Fury fight consigned to the scrapheap for good.
