Joshua and Fury survive tune-ups, undisputed talk heats up

Anthony Joshua and Tyson Fury both won their weekend tune-up fights, leaving promoters Eddie Hearn and Frank Warren free to pursue the long-stalled undisputed heavyweight showdown.

Joshua handled his assignment against Kristian Prenga while Fury came through his bout without incident, according to ESPN. Neither performance offered much beyond ring rust removal, but the results were enough to keep the biggest fight in British boxing on the table for later this year.

Can Joshua-Fury finally happen in 2025?

Hearn and Warren have floated the matchup for years, and both indicated after the weekend that talks could accelerate now that their fighters are active. The question is whether either camp will demand another step-up bout or move straight to negotiations for a stadium date in late summer or fall.

Fury holds belts from multiple sanctioning bodies while Joshua remains a draw on both sides of the Atlantic. A deal would likely hinge on split terms and broadcast rights, the same issues that tanked previous attempts. For now, both heavyweights are healthy and in the win column, which is more than the bout has had going for it in recent memory.

Reported via:

• ESPN Boxing — Anthony Joshua and Tyson Fury come through their tune-up fights -- what we learned and what happens next