THE ROAD TO THE RING: HOW TYSON FURY AND AJ FINALLY SIGNED THEIR CAREER-DEFINING CONTRACT
It is finally happening: Tyson Fury vs Anthony Joshua is a done deal. Learn more about the planned fight and AJ's upcoming July warm-up.
Tyson Fury and Anthony Joshua have agreed to fight in November, but it looks like both might squeeze in warm-up bouts before their big showdown.
Fury just got back in the ring earlier this month, outpointing Arslanbek Makhmudov in what was his first fight since losing a second time to Oleksandr Usyk in 202. At first, Fury said he’d only face Joshua next, but he’s starting to rethink that now that AJ officially signed on for their November fight.
Joshua’s set to fight Kristian Prenga in Saudi Arabia on July 25, and Fury might do something similar to stay sharp. Frank Warren, Fury’s promoter, told talkSPORT, “Tyson may want another fight to keep him ticking over; we’ll see. Tyson signed up for it months ago, but AJ’s on board now, so it’s happening. Looks like October. It’s a great fight, finally. The timing depends on venue availability.”
After beating Makhmudov at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, Fury said he’d already signed the contract with Joshua. It got awkward after the decision. Fury grabbed the mic, called Joshua out, and tried to get him in the ring. Joshua just sat there, not moving, not saying a word.
Fury called Joshua’s reaction “a bit suspect, how he handled himself". Later, Joshua explained he wasn’t ready to say yes quite yet. He’d been in a nasty car crash in December that killed two close friends. Joshua said, “I was in a serious incident. There’s real stuff happening in my life. I’m not ducking anyone. Once I’m 100 per cent, I’ll fight.” His only fight in the last 19 months was a win over YouTuber Jake Paul.
Back then, Fury worried the fight might fall apart if Joshua decided to take a warm-up first. “He’s had his problems. We all have. God knows I’ve had problems myself. I’ve tried to kill myself before. So I get it. I’ve been up and down,” Fury said.
“I’ve been one step out of the mental institution. We’ve all got our troubles; that’s just life. If you’re in this game, you’re a boxer, or you’re not. The thing is, heavyweights can get knocked out by anybody. Even a journeyman can flatten a big name if they land the right shot.”
Fury made it clear he didn’t bring up Joshua during the build-up after his accident. “I gave him the space and respect he deserved. But he showed up today, and I asked him to step up for a fight. He should have come into the ring, but he didn’t answer. He didn’t want it. He didn’t even look like he wanted it. He just seemed stunned and didn’t know what to say.”
“Let’s get it on. For ten years, we’ve been circling each other. Still, there’s no guarantee this fight even happens next. Do I want it? Yes. But will it happen? Honestly, I have no idea.”
UNDISPUTED CHAMPION NAOYA INOUE CONFIRMS "READY STATE" AHEAD OF BLOCKBUSTER TOKYO DOME CLASH
A historic showdown: 32-0 champions Naoya Inoue and Junto Nakatani clash at the Tokyo Dome. Get the latest predictions and hype.
Everyone’s buzzing about the Naoya Inoue vs. Junto Nakatani showdown. It’s not just a big deal in Japan; it’s the kind of fight that’ll have the whole boxing world glued to their screens. They’re set to meet at the Tokyo Dome on May 2, and people are calling this the biggest fight in Japanese boxing history. You can feel the hype.
Both Inoue and Nakatani come in unbeaten, with matching records of 32–0. That alone turns this into something special. Inoue’s undisputed super bantamweight title is up for grabs, so the stakes couldn’t be higher.
Everyone’s got an opinion: fighters, experts, fans, and now the Moloney brothers from Australia have jumped in with their predictions. Jason Moloney knows what it’s like to face Inoue. Back in 2020, he shared the ring with him in Vegas and got stopped in the seventh. Jason respects Nakatani’s style; it’s awkward, rangy, and tricky to handle. He wonders how Inoue will crack that code but, honestly, he doesn’t see anyone beating Inoue right now. “As good as Nakatani is, I don’t think anyone can beat Inoue at the moment. I see Inoue winning the fight,” Jason said.
He talked about how Inoue’s just so well-rounded. Good at everything, no matter where the fight goes. Still, Jason pointed out Inoue’s willingness to trade his aggression makes him fun to watch, but it’s got him hurt in recent fights. Even so, Jason’s sticking to his prediction: Nakatani will have moments, but he’s backing Inoue.
Andrew Moloney fought Nakatani last year and went the distance. He sees Inoue as explosive ones with that snap in their movement and punches. Andrew respects Nakatani’s size, his speed, and his power but thinks Inoue’s footwork and explosiveness will be the difference. “Inoue’s explosiveness and foot speed will be the edge, closing the distance and letting go of those dynamite punches.”
Both Moloney brothers agree. Inoue’s got what it takes to win.
This fight’s not just about impressive records; it’s got two guys who’ve dominated their weight divisions. Inoue’s seen as one of the best pound-for-pound fighters right now. Nakatani’s got size, reach, and that unpredictable style, which could throw Inoue off. And since both men can finish a fight, expect real fireworks. This isn’t one to miss.
NEGOTIATIONS FOR JOSHUA VS. DEONTAY WILDER HAVE COLLAPSED; JOSHUA TARGETS FURY FOR NOVEMBER
The decade-long pursuit of Wilder vs Joshua has ended. With AJ targeting Tyson Fury, Deontay Wilder now eyes a clash with Andy Ruiz.
After nearly a decade of attempts, the prospect of Deontay Wilder facing Anthony Joshua has finally fallen apart. As chronicled by World Boxing News from start to finish, this fight just isn’t happening anymore.
Joshua’s focus is shifting. By 2026, he’s aiming for a major British showdown with Tyson Fury, which means Wilder’s chances of being his next opponent are slim. Eddie Hearn, Joshua’s promoter, has essentially dismissed the idea of Wilder as a tune-up fight, leaving Wilder out of the equation for the Londoner’s upcoming plans.
Joshua is expected to have a warm-up bout this summer before engaging in two fights against Fury. By the time Joshua is back on the scene for a world title shot, Wilder will be close to 42 years old, pushing him to look elsewhere.
That opens the door for other contenders. Moses Itauma, a fellow Brit, has stepped forward, expressing interest in facing Wilder. It’s a risky move, given Wilder's power, and some see it as a misstep for the Bronze Bomber.
More intriguing, though, is a possible showdown in the US against Andy Ruiz Jr. Talks about that fight have floated around since 2020, delayed first by the Fury-Joshua trilogy and then by contractual issues on Ruiz’s side. When negotiations were alive, financial disagreements caused a breakdown, but fan interest has remained strong. World Boxing News reported a surge in fan demand, generating millions of impressions, pushing for this matchup.
Following their recent face-off at Allegiant Stadium in September, Wilder vs. Ruiz looks like a viable path if either aims to work back toward a heavyweight title opportunity.
With Joshua out of the picture, Wilder’s next steps are under close watch. Suggestions of a rematch with Derek Chisora haven’t gained much traction. Whether he goes after an up-and-comer like Itauma or revisits the Ruiz rivalry, that choice will be critical in determining how Wilder reasserts himself in the heavyweight division.
A title shot isn’t off the table, but the next fight has to be carefully chosen to keep those chances alive.
