Noakes (18-1, 16 KOs) is looking to rebound from the first defeat of his professional career after dropping a competitive decision to Abdullah Mason last November in Saudi Arabia. The entertaining contest earned Fight of the Year consideration, but it also halted the momentum the 28-year-old had built toward a world title shot.

He returned in May for a low-risk outing, stopping Benito Sanchez Garcia in two rounds at York Hall.

Berinchyk (19-1, 9 KOs) would represent a step up from that assignment, although he’s hardly entering the fight with momentum of his own. The 38-year-old Ukrainian hasn’t fought since suffering a fourth-round stoppage loss to Keyshawn Davis on February 14, 2025, when he lost the WBO lightweight title.

While Berinchyk’s experience and former world champion status add credibility to the matchup, both fighters are coming off losses, taking some of the shine off what otherwise could have been an intriguing lightweight clash.

From a matchmaking standpoint, however, the fight makes sense. Berinchyk offers Noakes a respected name without the risk that comes with facing one of the division’s younger contenders. A matchup against an unbeaten prospect such as Alan Chaves may have generated more interest, but it also would have posed a far more dangerous assignment for a fighter trying to rebuild after his first professional setback.

If the fight is finalized, it would serve as a solid keep-busy bout for Noakes while giving him the chance to put himself back in the lightweight conversation with a victory over a former world champion.

The Hall of Famer says a Texas showdown with Vergil Ortiz Jr. would generate more interest and revenue than an immediate fight with the unified junior middleweight champion

Roy Jones Jr believes Errol Spence Jr should postpone any fight with Jaron “Boots” Ennis if he defeats Tim Tszyu on July 25. Instead, the Hall of Famer says Spence should pursue a Texas showdown with Vergil Ortiz Jr., calling it the biggest fight available at junior middleweight.

Spence (28-1, 22 KOs) returns from a three-year absence on July 25 when he faces former WBO junior middleweight champion Tim Tszyu.

Jones believes a victory should lead directly to an all-Texas clash with Ortiz rather than a title fight against Ennis.

“The biggest fight right now, for that division, is Errol Spence if he beats Tszyu vs Vergil Ortiz in Dallas,” said Roy Jones Jr. on ALL THE SMOKE FIGHT. “They’d sell out Dallas Stadium.

“You don’t throw that away chasing Boots; you let Boots go and fight Fundora first – you wait and see what happens in the Errol Spence fight, if you’re smart.

“You’d make way more money right there in Dallas Stadium.”

Jones is looking at the commercial value of the matchup as much as the boxing side. Spence and Ortiz are both Texas natives and came through the amateur ranks in the state, making the fight an easy sell to local fans.

Ortiz is coming off a career-best win over Israil Madrimov and remains one of the leading contenders at 154 pounds. Ennis currently holds the WBA and WBO titles, while Sebastian Fundora owns the WBC belt, giving the division several major fights if Spence can get past Tszyu in his long-awaited return.

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Last Updated on 2026/07/08 at 1:13 PM

Fury issued a direct challenge in the clip.

Fury: “I challenge you, Anthony Joshua, to fight me, ‘The Gypsy King’, NEXT!”

AJ: “I’m the boss. You work for me. I’m the landlord, remember that.”

🎟️ Buy #JoshuaPrenga NOW at https://t.co/FoiaUucafv | July 25 | Esports World Cup Fight Week pic.twitter.com/vXzU6Hbjbz

— DAZN Boxing (@DAZNBoxing) July 8, 2026

Neither quote is new, but their reappearance comes as anticipation continues to build for a fight that has eluded boxing fans for years.

Before any agreement can become reality, both men have business to take care of. Fury is scheduled to face veteran Mariusz Wach on July 24, while Joshua meets unbeaten Albanian puncher Kristian Prenga the following night.

DAZN’s decision to recycle the exchange suggests the broadcaster is already looking beyond those contests and toward one of the biggest fights available in the heavyweight division. The social media post also included a link directing fans to purchase the Joshua-Prenga pay-per-view.

Joshua is expected to defeat Prenga and move one step closer to finally sharing the ring with Fury, but the unbeaten Albanian has made it clear he has no intention of playing the role of a tune-up opponent. Prenga, who owns a 20-1 record with 20 knockouts, has already vowed to derail the blockbuster plans by stopping the former two-time heavyweight champion.