Tyson Fury and Anthony Joshua face significant challenges before their much-anticipated fight can become a reality. According to a report by Ring Magazine on Friday, their showdown is aimed for 2026, but with some critical developments causing uncertainty.
Both fighters are set to take on other opponents ahead of their eventual clash at the Riyadh season’s “mega event.” Joshua, for example, must first defeat Jake Paul on December 19th, acknowledging he needs a standout victory to meet expectations. Meanwhile, Fury — who recently ended a brief retirement — has been linked with a possible comeback fight against Arslanbek Makhmudov.
There have been encouraging signs about Fury vs. Joshua, despite Fury’s initial plan to have a rematch with Oleksandr Usyk after retiring in 2024. Fans, however, clearly yearn for the Fury-Joshua matchup. On December 14, Gareth A. Davies revealed contenders for Fury’s return bouts before taking on Joshua. One prominent name is Arslanbek Makhmudov, who holds a professional record of 21 wins with 19 knockouts and 2 losses. Recently, Makhmudov won the WBA Intercontinental Heavyweight title by beating David Allen and promised Joshua a fight if he improved further.
Joshua initially considered a bout with Makhmudov but later chose to face Jake Paul following a new offer. Notably, Makhmudov shares multiple common opponents with Joshua, having bested Mahammadrasul Mazidov and Mihai Nistor in his amateur career—both of whom outperformed Joshua before turning professional. Additionally, Makhmudov claimed the vacant WBC silver heavyweight title with a unanimous decision over Carlos Takam, a fighter Joshua defeated five years ago during his first comeback after beating Wladimir Klitschko.
Fan Take: This potential clash between Fury and Joshua is one of the most awaited matchups in heavyweight boxing, representing a pivotal moment that could define the division for years. For fight fans, it promises an epic battle of skill and legacy, possibly revitalizing the sport with a monumental showdown in 2026.
