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Anthony Joshua and Tyson Fury are expected to fight later this year, but the date remains uncertain even though both camps claim to have reached an agreement. The fight depends on whether Joshua makes it to his fight, which will take place on July 25 in Riyad against Kristian Prenga.

Fury returned earlier this month with a decision victory over Arslanbek Makhmudov, his first victory since 2023, and immediately called for Joshua, who was watching from ringside. From that moment on, the desire to fight intensified again.

Joshua is still scheduled to return to action in July after a break following a fatal car crash in Nigeria that killed two of his close friends. He confirmed that he will continue his career and that his next target will be Fury, provided he manages to get a summer fight.

This first step is now ready. Joshua will face Kristian Prenga on July 25 in Riyad, with both sides claiming a deal with Fury will be concluded later. Eddie Hearn has identified November as his target.

“We’ll be back in July against Kristian Prengi and then, if all goes well, we’ll fight Tyson Fury in November. Everything has been signed on our end and ready to go. Fury said he’s signed the contract too, so there’s no point in denying it, in the end we’re going to fight without a doubt the biggest fight in the history of British boxing,” Hearn told Punch Podcast.

For Fury’s side, Frank Warren provided another window on when the fight would happen.

“It’s signed. Tyson signed up for it a few months ago and we were waiting for AJ and he already did it. So the fight will continue and it looks like it will take place sometime in October,” Warren said on talkSport Boxing.

The difference between October and November is compact on paper, but it usually means that the details are not yet fully settled. Fury’s dates, location and schedule still need to be finalized before anything can truly be wrapped up.

The fight goes on under a certain condition. Joshua has to get through July first. Until that happens, everything else is still being discussed.

Manny Pacquiao has faced plenty of top-flight stars over the course of his three-decade-long career, but there is one fighter the Filipino star still regrets not being able to fight.

“Pac Man” competed in famed fights with the likes of Floyd Mayweather, Oscar De La Hoya and Juan Manuel Marquez and remains in the sport to this day, hoping to break his own record as the oldest welterweight world champion in boxing history.

However, before the veteran can continue this mission, he is scheduled to fight a rematch with Mayweather in September – however, it is unclear whether it will be a professional or exhibition space.

The 47-year-old icon said, reflecting on his 73-fight career Vibration that he still regrets not having had the opportunity to hand Terence Crawford his first defeat before “Bud” retired with a 42-0 record.

“The Crawford fight. Because Bob Arum kept it. I’m covered by top-tier promotions and he’s been covered by top-tier promotions before, so I would love to fight him. But it never happened. Bob didn’t give it to me.”

Pacquiao and Crawford have been linked to the fight multiple times, and intriguingly, when the Omaha cameraman was asked the same question, he stated that he had been “chasing this fight for years” and regretted that it didn’t happen.

If he remains interested, Pacquiao has shared his desire to fight anyone while he is dynamic in the sport, including Crawford.

“As long as I stay dynamic in boxing, I will never do it [duck] whoever is in line. Whoever I face, I will face.”

Crawford doesn’t seem interested in returning to the ring despite the allure of a lucrative rematch with Canelo Alvarez, while Pacquiao appears to be absent in 2026 due to Mayweather’s defeat.

“Hey, you’re talking about fighting the best, this and that. Don’t talk about it. I’m here. Winner of Zurdo vs. Benavidez, let’s go,” Jai Opetaia told The Ring.

Opetai’s comments come just days before Benavidez fights Ramirez for the WBA and WBO cruiserweight titles scheduled for May 2. The fight gives Benavidez a chance to secure his first 200-pound belt after moving up from lightweight heavyweight.

The Australian was preparing for a unification opportunity and used the moment to press his case, calling out both fighters rather than focusing on one opponent.

The IBF’s decision to strip Opetaia following his move to Zuffa Boxing has already impacted the perception of this fight. Jose Benavidez Sr. cited the lack of a title and narrow profile as reasons why the fight doesn’t make sense at this point.

Opetaia previously held the IBF cruiserweight title and remains one of the most avoided fighters in the division, with several proposed fights falling through over the past year.

His latest statement puts immediate pressure on the outcome of Saturday’s fight, and a clear next step is already being pushed publicly.

Opetaia’s fight with the Ramirez-Benavidez winner will take the division closer to full unification, depending on how the remaining titles are handled.

For now, our focus is on Saturday’s fight, but Opetaia has made his position clear – he expects him to be next.