Promoter Eddie Hearn has confirmed that Anthony Joshua will want to return to the ring in July and then face Tyson Fury in 2026.
November is currently the scheduled date for Joshua vs. Fury.
Fury issued a public summons to Joshua after his victory over Arslanbek Makhmudov on Saturday, which Joshua did not agree to.
Although Fury stated that he had signed a contract for the fight and insisted that Joshua should not delay in meeting him, Hearn confirmed that negotiations were ongoing on their side with powerful Saudi boxing broker Turki Alalshikh and that a two-fight deal – a fight in the summer and then Fury – was on the table.
Hearn expects an agreement will eventually be reached, but said nothing has been agreed.
“My instructions from AJ are to make this fight,” Hearn told reporters on Tuesday.
“You get a contract, it’s natural that you come back with a lot of things. Nothing substantial, a little about who he will fight in July, when he will fight and where the fight will be. There are still things to negotiate, but I wouldn’t say they are ‘moot points.’
“We expect to be out in July and the fight with Fury will be in November.”
Hearn said fans can expect Joshua to face someone of a “similar level” to Makhmudov before he faces Fury in the middle of the year.
Joshua prefers to run away from a fight with Fury due to his inactivity – just two fights in 18 months – and his involvement in a car accident in December. Although Joshua suffered only minor injuries and is expected to return to full training within the next two weeks, two of his close friends died in the crash.
On Saturday, Joshua said he would fight Fury but did not want to commit to anything until contracts were signed.
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“I’ll be completely truthful, there’s a negotiation to go through. I’ve sat at that table with him many times,” Joshua said on Netflix.
“I had a grave incident about four months ago. So I have to really check what’s going on with my return to the ring. But I’m here. I’m focused on the game. Real things are happening in my life. I’m not avoiding anyone.”
Wembley Stadium in London and Croke Park in Dublin have been considered as potential locations for the Fury fight.
However, Hearn has all but ruled out an Irish venue for the event, given November is the modern target date for the fight and an outdoor arena would be inappropriate in Dublin at this time of year.
Both Joshua and Fury are former two-time heavyweight champions, but have never fought despite years of fighting between them. They were close to fighting in 2021, which ultimately ended in failure – a fight that would have been an undisputed title fight.