Anthony Joshua may finally lock horns with Tyson Fury in a long-awaited all-British heavyweight showdown, with negotiations already in motion to stage the super fight next summer.
Joshua’s promoter, Eddie Hearn, confirmed that talks have been held with Turki Alalshikh, chairman of Saudi Arabia’s General Entertainment Authority and the powerhouse behind Riyadh Season. According to Hearn, Alalshikh is determined to deliver the mega clash, describing Joshua vs Fury as “the biggest fight in boxing right now.”
“He wants AJ against Fury, that’s no secret,” Hearn told The Ring. “He wants the biggest fights in the sport, and that’s the one at the very top. Our job is to get Joshua’s side of the deal sorted, and then it’s up to Turki to bring Fury to the table.”
The Matchroom chief explained that Alalshikh’s direct involvement has streamlined the process, cutting out lengthy back-and-forth with Fury’s camp. “The beauty here is I don’t have to go through Frank Warren, Spencer Brown, or Fury himself. We handle our deal, and if Turki can make it happen, then the fight’s on. If not, it’s off,” Hearn said.
He also outlined Joshua’s roadmap, which includes a warm-up fight before the blockbuster. “The plan is to get AJ back in the ring quickly, build him up, and then lead into the Fury fight in 2026. Hopefully, everything falls into place.”
Joshua, who dropped out of The Ring’s heavyweight rankings after a year of inactivity following his loss to Daniel Dubois last September, has already returned to camp. Fury, 37, has famously retired and unretired multiple times, but Hearn believes the right Saudi-backed deal could lure the Gypsy King back for the biggest payday of his career.
