Warren Says Fury Vs. AJ Depends On ‘The Right Deal’

Frank Warren has confirmed that the heavyweight clash between Tyson Fury and Anthony Joshua will happen in 2026, but the fight is contingent on securing “the right deal.”

Warren’s comments suggest that Fury, who is currently retired, requires an enormous purse to return to the ring. Warren remains optimistic, stating he believes the fight will finally happen, with reports suggesting a target date of late summer 2026 as part of Saudi Arabia’s Riyadh Season events.

Fury, the “Gypsy King,” retired in January 2025 following consecutive defeats to Oleksandr Usyk in 2024, bouts that earned him an estimated over $100 million. Warren’s comments indicate that Fury will likely demand a similar financial guarantee to fight his biggest British rival.

However, Fury is coming off two losses, so he must be careful not to “price himself out” of the fight. The current plan calls for both fighters to compete in separate warm-up bouts in 2026 before their collision. Joshua, who fights Jake Paul this Friday, December 19th, is already engaged in a high-risk contest.

While he is expected to win, facing Paul is not “ideal preparation” to step immediately into a war with a technical, world-class fighter like Fury. For Fury, a tune-up is essential to shake off ring rust and definitively prove his competitive fire is back after his recent defeats.

“There’s nothing been signed yet, but Tyson’s indicated if it’s the right deal, he’ll definitely do it. I do believe it will happen. He may have a warm-up fight, but if it happens, it’ll be sometime in late summer. When it does happen, I think it’s going to be massive,” Warren said

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