BoxRec

They can do this stuff in pro wrestling because everyone knows it's fiction.

Anyone over five years old knows that major boxing matches are not made by men shouting at one another in rings. They are made by meetings between money men in quiet rooms.

The whole facade at the end was cringe.

Quite funny to see Joshua not play the game for Turki's pleasure, while Fury and Warren did.

Tyson Fury: 'Anthony Joshua hit me so hard I was almost knocked out for a month'

The WWE-style exchange between Tyson Fury and Anthony Joshua that punctuated the former’s comeback victory over Arslanbek Makhmudov didn’t reveal much about whether the two Britons will ever engage in a professional bout. But it did remind everyone that they've exchanged punches before.

Joshua – when only a 20-year-old up-and-coming amateur – got the better of Fury during a sparring session that took place in 2010. “I beat you up when we were kids,” said Joshua, who refused to succumb to Fury’s goading and accept the offer of a fight.

An audio clip has since emerged from the time of the sparring of a Fury interview, conducted by Steve Bunce, in which Fury, then English heavyweight champion, described getting a “beating” from young Joshua.

“I sparred with the ABA champion [Anthony Joshua]. He’s red hot, him. He’s very good,” the 21-year-old Fury told Bunce in 2010.

“To be honest, I thought to myself I’ve only got to take it easy because he’s only an amateur and he won’t spar again if I go mad. He’s rushed out at me, he threw a one-two, I’m trying to slip and slide and take my time, then, bash, he hit me with a right uppercut right in the point of my chin. If I’d have had a bit of a weak chin… I’d have been knocked out for a month.

“He's very good, though, and he’s very young – 20. Watch out for that name: Anthony Joshua. He is one [top] prospect for the future.”

Joshua was still two years away from winning gold at the Olympic Games in London. Fury, however, was already 11 fights into his professional career.

“I class myself as one of the top prospects, one of the best heavyweights in the world and he came at me for three rounds and he give me a beating,” Fury said. “I’m not going to deny it; he gave me what for, hell for leather for three rounds. I thought, oh my god an amateur is killing me.

“I thought I could slow him down with a few good body shots and I’m a handful myself. So, for him to put up a performance like that against me, I think he’s one for the future. But sparring ain’t fighting and fighting with a head guard on is not professional boxing.

“I tell it like it is. If the kid was no good, I’d say it. But he is good and I’ll tell anyone that he beat me up in sparring.”

gilgamesh wrote: ↑12 Apr 2026, 00:07

gregregegg wrote: ↑11 Apr 2026, 23:48 In my ideal world aj would fight Whyte, then wilder, then fury… but they would all be this year.

In the real world I hope it just happens next.

I get Wilder but why bother with Whyte? Been there, done that.

It’s the easiest possible slightly sellable name. Purely because aj has had a pretty bad time and I would consider that a mega tune up. Then wilder a semi tune up. Then fury a real fight.

gregregegg wrote: ↑15 Apr 2026, 02:49

gilgamesh wrote: ↑12 Apr 2026, 00:07

gregregegg wrote: ↑11 Apr 2026, 23:48 In my ideal world aj would fight Whyte, then wilder, then fury… but they would all be this year.

In the real world I hope it just happens next.

I get Wilder but why bother with Whyte? Been there, done that.

It’s the easiest possible slightly sellable name. Purely because aj has had a pretty bad time and I would consider that a mega tune up. Then wilder a semi tune up. Then fury a real fight.

Wilder might beat him. I wouldn't risk Wilder before fighting Fury.

Joshua Wants Tune-Up In July, Intends To Fight Fury In November

Anthony Joshua is set for a July comeback fight before finally taking on Tyson Fury in November.

Eddie Hearn, Joshua’s longtime promoter, confirmed Joshua’s plan to The Ring on Tuesday.

The two-time heavyweight champion was ringside for Fury’s victory over Arslanbek Makhmudov on Saturday night at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, but he refused to be drawn into a vocal battle with his British rival. Immediately after his unanimous points win, Fury turned his attention to Joshua and demanded he accept his challenge to face him.

But, with the fight not yet agreed, Joshua decided against taking the bait. He later stated that he still wants a warm-up fight before heading into what would be one of the biggest fights in British boxing history.

An hour later, at his post-fight press conference in the stadium’s media auditorium, Fury warned Joshua about the dangers of a warm-up fight in a division where “everyone has power.” He then indicated he would head back into retirement unless Joshua fights him next.

Fury (35-2-1, 24 KOs) and his manager, Spencer Brown, both said they hoped to agree a September fight with Joshua (29-4, 26 KOs), with Wembley Stadium being an obvious venue, but it sounds as if they may have to wait a little longer. Hearn said the 2012 Olympic gold medalist is considering a tune-up fight in July, which would then give him four months to recover and prepare for a clash with Fury.

“Comeback in July and then Fury in November is the dream shot,” Hearn told The Ring. “There’s obviously a lot of work to be on that, but it’s what we are discussing.

“The fight in July would be a headline event against someone credible, someone of that same level as Makhmudov, and then go into the Tyson Fury fight.”

Joshua returned to the ring for the first time since September 2024 when he stopped polarizing social media star Jake Paul in the sixth round December 19 in Miami.

Just days later, Joshua was involved in a car crash that killed his two close friends, Latif Ayodele and Sina Ghami. Following the tragedy near Lagos, Nigeria, it was unclear whether he would ever box again, but he has confirmed he will return to the ring this year.

The 36-year-old Joshua will not, however, be rushed into facing Fury.

It had been suggested that Joshua’s next fight could come against Deontay Wilder, another man he has been linked with for years, following the former WBC champion’s split-decision victory over Derek Chisora on April 4 at O2 Arena in London. But Hearn says a fight with Wilder would not represent the sort of warm-up they seek.

“We’d like to fight Wilder,” Hearn said. “But that is a different deal to the one where we would look to be out in July and then November. I think the focus from Netflix and Turki Alalshikh is to fight Fury, so with that in mind I don’t think they’ll be looking to go into what some perceive as a risky fight with Deontay Wilder. We like the fight, but the focus is Fury.

“He will fight in July, then he will fight Tyson Fury and I truly believe he knocks Tyson Fury out. If he does that, he ain’t retiring, so we go and try to win the world heavyweight title again.”

Frank~Warren provides clarity on Tyson Fury vs Anthony Joshua fight talks

Frank~Warren has spoken about the latest developments surrounding the Tyson Fury vs. Anthony Joshua fight.

It appeared that Fury was of the belief that a fight with Joshua was going to be confirmed, but ‘AJ’ stuck to his guns and insisted that negotiations are still ongoing and he won’t commit to anything just yet.

Fury’s promoter Warren has now shared an update on the situation, telling TalkSport that they believed Joshua was about to put pen to paper on a deal, but is still yet to do so.

“Tyson has signed up for this fight. He signed up for the fight at Spurs which he had, and the next fight is supposed to be against AJ in August/September. AJ we were led to believe was about to sign up for the fight and hasn’t done so.

“Does AJ want to continue fighting? I’m told that he does. Does he want to do the fight now or does he want to do a fight in between? That’s not what Tyson signed up for, Tyson signed up for that fight to take place immediately after this one. What Tyson has signed up for he wants to deliver on.

“I genuinely thought when Turki said get in the ring, I expected AJ and Eddie [Hearn] to get in the ring. That’s their business, irrespective of what happens, he hasn’t signed up for that fight, and until he does it’s pointless talking about it. Tyson won’t sit around forever but he’s there and he wants to do the fight and that’s where he’s at.”

As negotiations have been going through boxing powerbroker Turki Alalshikh, it is typical for both sides to sign their own deal, which is where the confusion lies.

Eddie Hearn confirms talks for possible Tyson Fury vs. Anthony Joshua fight

Anthony Joshua will aim to return to the ring in July before going on to face Tyson Fury later in 2026, promoter Eddie Hearn has confirmed.

November is now the intended timeframe for Joshua vs. Fury.

Fury issued a public call out to Joshua following his win over Arslanbek Makhmudov on Saturday, which Joshua refused to accept.

While Fury said he has signed for the fight, and insisted Joshua should not delay in facing him, Hearn has confirmed negotiations on their side are underway with Saudi Arabia boxing power broker Turki Alalshikh with a two fight deal -- a bout in the summer and then Fury -- on the table.

Hearn expects a deal to finally be reached, but said nothing has been agreed.

"My instructions from AJ is to make the fight," Hearn told reporters on Tuesday.

"You receive a contract, it's natural to go back with a lot of stuff. Nothing major, a little bit about who he fights in July, when he fights, where the fight's going to be. Still things to negotiate but I wouldn't say 'sticking points.'

"We expect to be out in July and then fight Fury in November."

Hearn said fans can expect to see Joshua face someone of a "similar level" to Makhmudov mid-year before going on to face Fury.

Joshua's preference is for a run out before facing Fury due to inactivity -- with just two fights in 18 months -- and his involvement in a car crash in December. While Joshua sustained only minor injuries and is expected to be cleared to return to full training in the next two weeks, two of his close friends were killed in the crash.

On Saturday, Joshua said he will fight Fury, but refused to commit to anything until contracts were signed.

"I'm going to be completely honest, there's a negotiation that you go through. I've sat at this table with him many times," Joshua said on Netflix.

"I was just in a serious incident maybe four months ago. So, I need to really check out what's going on with my return to the ring. But I'm here. I'm keeping my eye in the game. There's real stuff happening in my life. I'm not ducking no one."

Wembley Stadium in London and Dublin's Croke Park have been floated as potential locations for the Fury fight.

However, Hearn all but ruled out the Irish venue given November is the new target date for the bout and an outdoor arena would be unsuitable in Dublin at that time of year.

Both Joshua and Fury are former two-time heavyweight champions but have never fought despite years of back-and-forth between the two. They came close to a 2021 bout which ultimately fell through -- a matchup that would have been for the undisputed title.

gilgamesh wrote: ↑15 Apr 2026, 04:06

gregregegg wrote: ↑15 Apr 2026, 02:49

gilgamesh wrote: ↑12 Apr 2026, 00:07

I get Wilder but why bother with Whyte? Been there, done that.

It’s the easiest possible slightly sellable name. Purely because aj has had a pretty bad time and I would consider that a mega tune up. Then wilder a semi tune up. Then fury a real fight.

Wilder might beat him. I wouldn't risk Wilder before fighting Fury.

Yea despite all my many criticisms of Wilder and despite the fact he’s basically shot, he’s still one of the very last people AJ should face as a ‘tune-up’.

gilgamesh wrote: ↑15 Apr 2026, 04:06

gregregegg wrote: ↑15 Apr 2026, 02:49

gilgamesh wrote: ↑12 Apr 2026, 00:07

I get Wilder but why bother with Whyte? Been there, done that.

It’s the easiest possible slightly sellable name. Purely because aj has had a pretty bad time and I would consider that a mega tune up. Then wilder a semi tune up. Then fury a real fight.

Wilder might beat him. I wouldn't risk Wilder before fighting Fury.

i think if aj lands like chisora did he'll flatten him not saying wilder still couldnt ko aj but looks a shell of a man from 5 years ago

Joshua v Fury won't happen at Croke Park - Hearn

A heavyweight showdown between Tyson Fury and Anthony Joshua "is not going to happen at Croke Park", according to Eddie Hearn, who also confirmed he will have talks in Dublin on Friday to secure the stadium for Katie Taylor's farewell fight.

Last week, Croke Park stadium chief executive Peter McKenna suggested a long-awaited fight for Taylor at the 82,000-capacity home of Gaelic games could happen on a card shared with Tyson Fury.

'The Gypsy King' marked his return to the ring after 16 months at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium on Saturday, out-pointing Arslanbek Makhmudov over 12 rounds and immediately calling for a fight with long-time rival Joshua, who was present at ringside.

Although no contracts have been signed, a long-awaited fight between the pair may take place later this year, but it will not be in Dublin according to Hearn, who promotes Joshua and Taylor, who he says deserves to be the star attraction of any big night at Croke Park.

"There is nothing else on the agenda apart from Katie Taylor," Hearn said on Matchroom Boxing's social media channel.

"Anthony Joshua against Tyson Fury, for me, is not going to happen at Croke Park.

"Katie Taylor is not fighting on any undercard. If there is a fight at Croke Park, it should be Katie Taylor and Katie Taylor only.

"That is the whole story; that is the history, the legacy and nothing short of what she deserves, so on Friday, we will be at Croke Park to try and advance those talks."

'We'll do all we can to make Taylor's dreams come true'

However, Hearn feels the time is right to try again and says he and his team will "do everything we can to make it happen".

"There's massive public demand and momentum for this to happen," he added.

"Katie Taylor has made it clear she wants to fight one final time. She has done everything in the sport you can do: she's European amateur champion, world amateur, Olympic gold medallist, world champion, unified champion and undisputed champion.

"She's sold out Madison Square Garden, boxed at Wembley Stadium, the Millennium Stadium, so this is the moment Irish sport stops and pays homage to not just one of the greatest people of all time, but one of the greatest athletes ever to come out of Ireland.

"She deserves this so much and we'll do everything we can to make it happen."

Anthony Joshua-Tyson Fury: It is being planned for November, Eddie Hearn confirms

Eddie Hearn today confirmed that he's under "instructions" from Anthony Joshua to make the fight with Tyson Fury this year.

On Saturday, the 35-2-1 (24 KOs) Fury outpointed Arslanbek Makhmudov over 12 rounds to end a 16-month hiatus. Immediately afterwards he called out Joshua, who was ringside, and demanded the fight be signed and sealed there and then. Joshua neither obliged nor turned down the offer of the long awaited showdown.

The 36-year-old last fought in December, knocking out Jake Paul in six rounds. It was then expected that Joshua, 29-4 (26 KOs), would engage entertain Rico Verhoeven in March this year before taking on Fury in August. Tragedy quickly followed, however, when Joshua was injured in a car crash in Nigeria that killed two of his closest friends.

According to Hearn, Joshua is awaiting clearance from doctors to return to full-time training.

"My instructions [from Joshua] are 'make the [Fury] fight'," Hearn said.

"We all know that, around the [time of the] Jake Paul fight, the fight was virtually done. We were going to fight in March [in a warm-up] and fight [Fury] in August. But with everything that has happened, it's been a very difficult time, and that plan has been delayed.

"The same plan still exists. The offer that we received from [Turki Alalshikh] is to fight in July and fight Tyson Fury around November. We're up for that.

"We need to make sure of the timings. The last Saturday of July is 14 weeks away. We need to get that all clear, physically, to return to full-time training, to sparring, which is a different kettle of fish versus getting on a treadmill. This is intense full-time training.

"We believe we're going to be given the all-clear to do that because 'AJ' feels like he's ready.

"If we do that, get everything locked up, I'm fully confident that this fight happens."

So if they're both planning a fight before they come together. Who does everyone think they will or should face?

AJ:
Should: Wilder, Hughie or Jalolov
Could: Thompson, Zakhozhyi, Miller or Ljungquist

Fury:
Should: Ajagba, Bakole, Riakporhe, Zhang, Dubois, Wardley or Kabayel
Could: Dubois, Wardley, Huni, Miller/Pero, Kabayel, Anderson or Okolie

Had to post this ..

Been
A while.

joshj909 wrote: ↑17 Apr 2026, 07:56 So if they're both planning a fight before they come together. Who does everyone think they will or should face?

AJ:
Should: Wilder, Hughie or Jalolov
Could: Thompson, Zakhozhyi, Miller or Ljungquist

Fury:
Should: Ajagba, Bakole, Riakporhe, Zhang, Dubois, Wardley or Kabayel
Could: Dubois, Wardley, Huni, Miller/Pero, Kabayel, Anderson or Okolie

Fury just had a fight before they come together. If they're planning to fight in the Fall, Fury should wait until Fall and fight AJ.

AJ should fight the chinniest, non punchingest guy that's a little bit tall that he can find.

gilgamesh wrote: ↑17 Apr 2026, 14:52

joshj909 wrote: ↑17 Apr 2026, 07:56 So if they're both planning a fight before they come together. Who does everyone think they will or should face?

AJ:
Should: Wilder, Hughie or Jalolov
Could: Thompson, Zakhozhyi, Miller or Ljungquist

Fury:
Should: Ajagba, Bakole, Riakporhe, Zhang, Dubois, Wardley or Kabayel
Could: Dubois, Wardley, Huni, Miller/Pero, Kabayel, Anderson or Okolie

Fury just had a fight before they come together. If they're planning to fight in the Fall, Fury should wait until Fall and fight AJ.

AJ should fight the chinniest, non punchingest guy that's a little bit tall that he can find.

November will be 9 months since his fight with Makhmudov. If he wants to stay fit then you'd think another fight would be worthwhile. Especially given that the fight with Joshua will likely be his last, unless there's a rematch, so he can get paid while he still can.

joshj909 wrote: ↑17 Apr 2026, 15:01

gilgamesh wrote: ↑17 Apr 2026, 14:52

joshj909 wrote: ↑17 Apr 2026, 07:56 So if they're both planning a fight before they come together. Who does everyone think they will or should face?

AJ:
Should: Wilder, Hughie or Jalolov
Could: Thompson, Zakhozhyi, Miller or Ljungquist

Fury:
Should: Ajagba, Bakole, Riakporhe, Zhang, Dubois, Wardley or Kabayel
Could: Dubois, Wardley, Huni, Miller/Pero, Kabayel, Anderson or Okolie

Fury just had a fight before they come together. If they're planning to fight in the Fall, Fury should wait until Fall and fight AJ.

AJ should fight the chinniest, non punchingest guy that's a little bit tall that he can find.

November will be 9 months since his fight with Makhmudov. If he wants to stay fit then you'd think another fight would be worthwhile. Especially given that the fight with Joshua will likely be his last, unless there's a rematch, so he can get paid while he still can.

He hasn't fought 3 times in a year since 2018. When you're older it's about making the most out of the least.

Speaking with Seconds Out, Amir Khan highlighted the tragic car crash in which Joshua was involved in December, when two of his closest friends lost their lives.

“I still think Tyson could take it, but AJ is looking strong [in the gym]. I wanna see how AJ’s gonna be coming back now

“Obviously he’s gone through a lot, with the loss of his friends, but I’m sure it would be a mega fight [with Fury]. What a massive fight that would be.”

Ruthless-RKO wrote: ↑17 Apr 2026, 14:47 Had to post this ..

Been
A while.

We''re live on C5....Go on one more

Fury-Joshua showdown moving closer as AJ plots return

The long-awaited Tyson Fury-Anthony Joshua showdown is inching closer to reality.

Matchroom Boxing promoter Eddie Hearn said that former two-time unified heavyweight titleholder Joshua’s plan is to return in July and then face former champion Fury in November in an all-British mega fight that remains the biggest fight that can be made in boxing.

The fight has gone unmade for years despite various negotiations but has again reached a fever pitch with Fury’s vociferous call out of Joshua following Fury’s one-sided decision over Arslanbek Makhmudov on Netflix on April 11 at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium.

Joshua watched at ringside but declined to face off with Fury in the ring after the bout or commit to the fight as he continues to deal with minor injuries from a December car accident and the deaths of two close friends in the crash on the outskirts of Lagos, Nigeria, where they were vacationing following Joshua’s knockout of Jake Paul two weeks earlier.

Still, Hearn told reporters at the recent Oleksandr Usyk-Rico Verhoeven news conference in London that he is negotiating a two-fight deal with Saudi Arabia’s Turki Alalshikh to put on the July fight and then the Fury showdown, which was close to being made before Joshua’s car accident.

Ruthless-RKO wrote: ↑17 Apr 2026, 14:47 Had to post this ..

Been
A while.

All mouth and vacated his titles rather than fight the plumber,

He was funny back then though

TYSON FURY vs ANTHONY JOSHUA (Event promoter announced)

Eddie Hearn has confirmed that FURY/AJ will not be promoted by Matchroom or Frank-Warren’s Queensbury. The fight will in fact be promoted by Sela/Ring & @Turki_alalshikh

Source: Ifl tv