Eddie Hearn responds to Tyson Fury vs Anthony Joshua news with message | Boxing | Sport

Eddie Hearn has confirmed a fight between Anthony Joshua and Tyson Fury is “signed, sealed, delivered.” The explosive announcement was made this afternoon, shortly after Joshua’s next opponent was also unveiled.

The former World Champion and Olympic gold medallist will take on Albanian boxer Kristian Prenga on July 25, before shifting his focus to a showdown against the Gypsy King later in 2026. A date has not yet been confirmed for the clash between the two British heavyweights, but it is anticipated to take place in the final quarter of this year.

It is a fight which has been over a decade in the making, particularly after an undisputed world heavyweight encounter between the duo was scrapped in 2021, following an arbitration judge’s ruling that Fury must face Deontay Wilder in a trilogy bout with the Bronze Bomber also turning down a step-aside payment.

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Joshua was also mandated to face Oleksandr Usyk in a compulsory WBO title defence, which concluded with the Ukrainian comprehensively defeating him to claim the belt. Fury subsequently overcame Wilder, while Joshua met Usyk in a rematch, only to suffer defeat once more.

There were some discussions for a fight in 2022, but the situation became complicated when Fury repeatedly imposed his own strict deadlines on a contract between the pair to be signed. This has not been the case this year, as Hearn confirmed on social media.

The Matchroom chief shared a photograph of himself alongside chairman of the Saudi Arabian General Entertainment Authority Turki Alalshikh and Joshua beaming. He wrote: “Signed, sealed, delivered! AJ v Fury is on!”

Joshua has already started the psychological warfare with Fury, writing: “It’s no secret I’ve taken some time to consolidate and rebuild to be ready for stepping back into the ring and this is the next step on that journey. I’m looking forward to competing and picking up where I left off. As I said. The landlord will collect his rent. That is certain.”

Fury is yet to respond directly, but has reposted an Instagram upload of Alalshikh confirming the news on X. Nevertheless, given the manner in which he issued his challenge to Joshua immediately after he defeated Russian giant Arslanbek Makhmudov via unanimous decision earlier this month, Fury will be brimming with confidence.

Following his triumph, he turned towards Joshua and bellowed: “I want you, AJ, Anthony Joshua. Let’s give the fight fans what they want – the Battle of Britain. I challenge you Anthony Joshua to fight me the Gypsy King next. Do you accept my challenge?”

Naturally, Joshua will first need to overcome Prenga, the relatively unknown 35-year-old who has built a reputation as a formidable knockout specialist. He possesses a 20-1 record, with 20 victories coming via knockout. His sole defeat came in February 2017, when he lost to Giovanni Auriemma in the Netherlands.

Hearn had repeatedly insisted Joshua would have a ‘warm-up’ bout ahead of any showdown with Fury, having most recently stepped into the ring against Jake Paul in a highly lucrative contest, before surviving a devastating car crash in Nigeria, which tragically claimed the lives of his friends Sina Ghami and Latif Ayodele.