Fury vs Joshua signed for 2026

Tyson Fury and Anthony Joshua have signed to fight later in 2026, according to reports from The Independent, Sports Illustrated and Sky Sports, reviving a heavyweight matchup that has repeatedly stalled over the past several years. The reports said the two former world champions are not expected to meet immediately. (independent.co.uk) Instead, both men are planning interim fights before the main event takes place later this year. Anthony Joshua’s next date is already in place. (independent.co.uk) The Independent and Sports Illustrated reported that Joshua will face Kristian Prenga on July 25 in Saudi Arabia as a warm-up bout before the Fury fight. Eddie Hearn, Joshua’s promoter, told outlets the Fury deal was done, with Sky Sports describing the contest as “signed, sealed and delivered.” ### How firm is this fight compared with the earlier false starts? Eddie Hearn’s declaration is the clearest public marker attached to this latest attempt. The Independent reported on April 27 that Hearn said Joshua-Fury was “officially signed,” while PA’s version of the story, carried by The Independent, said a deal to stage the bout had been signed for later in 2026. (independent.co.uk) Sky Sports matched that framing in its own report, saying the all-British heavyweight fight was “signed, sealed and delivered” for 2026. Sports Illustrated, in a later follow-up, referred to the bout as “reportedly signed” and wrote that both boxers were expected to take one more fight before meeting. (independent.co.uk) ### Why are there still interim fights if the main event is agreed? July 25 is central to the current schedule. The Independent reported that Joshua’s keep-busy fight against Prenga in Saudi Arabia is intended to bridge the gap before the Fury bout, while Fury has also been trying to arrange a fight of his own. (independent.co.uk) Frank Warren, Fury’s promoter, underscored the risk in that plan. The Independent reported Warren saying a Joshua loss to Prenga would “kill” plans for the British heavyweight showdown, a reminder that the signed agreement still depends on both men coming through their interim assignments. (skysports.com) ### Who is Joshua fighting first? Kristian Prenga is the opponent named in the reporting around Joshua’s return. Sports Illustrated said Joshua confirmed the July 25 fight within minutes of the broader Fury announcement, and The Independent said the bout is scheduled for Saudi Arabia. (independent.co.uk) Prenga’s role in the sequence is straightforward: he is the opponent standing between Joshua and the larger Fury date. The Independent separately described him as Joshua’s warm-up opponent before the long-awaited domestic clash. ### What is Fury doing before then? (independent.co.uk) April 8 is when Fury publicly tied his immediate plans to Joshua. The Independent reported that Fury wanted to face Joshua by “the end of the year” but first had a comeback bout against Arslanbek Makhmudov on his schedule. By April 30, The Independent reported Fury was targeting another warm-up fight before the Joshua date, though no opponent was named in the available reports. (si.com) Sports Illustrated also said both men would have one more fight before they meet. ### What happens next on the calendar? July 25 is the next fixed milestone in the rollout. (independent.co.uk) Joshua is due to fight Prenga in Saudi Arabia on that date, according to The Independent and Sports Illustrated, and Fury is expected to finalize his own interim bout after that. If both men come through, the Fury-Joshua fight is slated for later in 2026. (independent.co.uk 1) (independent.co.uk 2)