Revealed: Anthony Joshua finally signs deal to fight Tyson Fury

British-Nigerian boxer,  Anthony Joshua has officially signed a multi-fight deal, with the first step leading to a long-awaited clash against Tyson Fury later this year.

The fight, which is expected to be one of Britain’s biggest boxing events in recent history, will take place in Q4 2026, according to confirmation from The Ring and Saudi General Entertainment Authority.

Joshua, who is gearing up for a return to the ring after a significant hiatus following a car accident that killed two members of his team, will first face Kristian Prenga in a high-stakes fight in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia on July 30, 2026.

This will be Joshua’s first fight since his victory over Jake Paul in December 2025.

Promoter Eddie Hearn broke the news on social media, stating, “Signed, sealed, delivered! AJ v Fury is on!” marking the official confirmation of the long-awaited fight between the two heavyweights.

The clash with Fury will be the highlight of a new deal that will see Joshua participate in several major bouts over the next few years.

Joshua’s return comes after a tough period, including his recovery from the fatal car crash in Nigeria. Speaking about his comeback, Joshua said: “It’s no secret I’ve taken some time to consolidate and rebuild to be ready for stepping back into the ring. Today is the next step on that journey, and I’m delighted to have agreed a multi-fight deal starting with July 30th in Saudi Arabia.”

A fight with Tyson Fury has long been the subject of speculation and finally appears set to take place later this year after Fury called out Joshua following his victory over Arslanbek Makhmudov earlier this month.

During a post-fight interview, Fury challenged Joshua directly from the ring, shouting, “I challenge you, Anthony Joshua, to fight me next. Do you accept?” While Joshua did not respond immediately, the challenge sparked excitement among boxing fans, with both fighters now committed to making the showdown happen.

Before facing Fury, Joshua must first overcome Kristian Prenga, a promising opponent with an impressive record of 20 wins and 1 loss, with all of his victories coming via knockout. Prenga, 35, is preparing for what could be the biggest fight of his career. “Joshua made a terrible miscalculation in picking me as his opponent,” Prenga said ahead of the fight. “This is the kind of fight that changes everything for me and for him.”

For Joshua, this upcoming fight is crucial as he looks to revive his career and return to the heights of his past achievements. Joshua was a two-time unified heavyweight champion, holding the WBA, IBF, and WBO titles between 2018 and 2019, before reclaiming the titles in 2019 with a win over Andy Ruiz Jr. His second reign ended in 2021 after a loss to Oleksandr Usyk, and although Joshua has since secured wins against Jermaine Franklin, Robert Helenius, and Francis Ngannou, a defeat to Daniel Dubois raised doubts about his future in the sport.