The fight fans have been demanding for nearly a decade is finally happening. Anthony Joshua and Tyson Fury have officially agreed to face each other in a heavyweight showdown 2026, with promoter Eddie Hearn declaring it “signed, sealed and delivered”.
The all-British clash, which Fury has dubbed “The Battle of Britain,” is expected to take place in November, though a venue has not yet been announced. Netflix is reportedly in pole position to broadcast the event, which would bring the fight to over 300 million global subscribers.
Before Joshua can think about Fury, he must first step back into the ring. The 36-year-old former two-time world champion will face Kristian Prenga on July 25 in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, in a bout billed as “The Comeback” .
The fight marks Joshua’s first appearance since he was involved in a fatal car crash in Nigeria last December that killed two of his close friends. His most recent victory came against Jake Paul on December 19 in Miami, a sixth-round knockout that reminded the world of his power.
Prenga, a 35-year-old former kickboxer from Albania fighting out of New Jersey, brings a record of 20 wins and one loss, all 20 victories by knockout. He has made no secret of his intentions: “I will derail their plans and shock the world this July,” he said.
The rivalry between Joshua and Fury stretches back more than 15 years, beginning with a sparring session in 2010 when Joshua was a 20-year-old amateur and Fury was an unbeaten prospect . Multiple attempts to stage the fight have collapsed over the years, with negotiations falling apart in 2019 and again in 2021.
Now, at 36 and 37 respectively, both men are past their peak but remain the two biggest names in British boxing . Fury called Joshua out immediately after his April 11 comeback win over Arslanbek Makhmudov, saying: “If it isn’t AJ next, I’m not interested in boxing again”.
The July 25 fight will be broadcast live worldwide on DAZN as part of Joshua’s multi-fight deal with the platform . Saudi Arabia’s General Entertainment Authority chairman Turki Alalshikh, a major power broker in modern boxing, described the agreement as a message “to my friends in Great Britain, it’s happening. It’s signed”.
For now, all eyes turn to Riyadh. The landlord has promised to collect his rent. And the fight of the decade is finally, officially, on the horizon.
