Tyson Fury will fight Anthony Joshua next year, but only if he gets paid for it, promoter Frank Warren has told Sky Sports News.
Earlier this month, it was reported that Fury and Joshua would finally meet in the ring in 2026, but that has yet to be confirmed.
Warren insisted Fury is willing to fight Joshua but the funding has to be adequate, saying: “It’s the financial aspect that will encourage Tyson.”
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Warren said Fury and Joshua both had preliminary fights and, if all goes to plan, are expected to share the ring in August or September 2026.
“Like Tyson and the team, we believe he will lose to AJ. It all comes down to the value of the fight. It’s a big fight and it’s worth a lot of money.”
“Tyson has a price. If he pays the price, Tyson will fight Tyson there.”
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Jake Paul vs. Joshua highlights. Video provided by Netflix and MVP. Jake vs Joshua is now available worldwide exclusively on Netflix
“Tyson will knock out AJ!”
Joshua knocked out Jake Paul early Saturday in his first fight since September 2024, when he was soundly defeated by Daniel Dubois.
After his win in Miami, Joshua called out Fury. However, Warren was unimpressed with Joshua’s performance against YouTuber-turned-boxer Paul, saying, “I would like Tyson more if he was the version I saw in his last fight.”
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Joshua called out Fury, who had won against Paul. Video provided by Netflix and MVP. Jake vs Joshua is now available worldwide exclusively on Netflix
“He got caught by Jake Paul a few times. He caught him with a few good jabs and caught him with a nice uppercut. He (Paul) was too small.”
Warren further added, “Tyson is going to knock him out. I know he’s going to knock him out.”
“He’s a big puncher. AJ isn’t hard to hit and he’s a real fighter with a big chin, comparable to a boxer.”
Riyadh or London?
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Fury launched a furious attack on Joshua on social media ahead of Friday’s fight with AJ’s Paul
Warren admitted that the bout, which has been eagerly awaited by British boxing fans, could be held in Saudi Arabia as it would be part of the Riyadh season if the fight were to be held in 2026.
“Money determines where the fights are fought. It’s that simple,” Warren said.
“They’ll go where the money is, they’re professional fighters and they’ll get in the ring and take punches for the money.
“They’re no different from any other athlete, golfer, soccer player, whoever they are, they’re going to play wherever they can get paid the most.
“Boxing is a dangerous sport and most boxers’ careers end at the age of these two.
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Joshua called out Fury, who had won against Paul. Video provided by Netflix and MVP. Jake vs Joshua is now available worldwide exclusively on Netflix
“There’s nothing better than an all-British game. There’s not the atmosphere you get when you have an all-British game, so it would be great. But it would also be a huge TV audience.”
Fury’s last three fights have all taken place in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, with the ‘Gypsy King’ having not fought on British soil since defeating Derek Chisora in 2022.
However, Joshua’s recent fights have spanned three countries, most recently in Miami after a knockout loss to Dubois in London.
Joshua also defeated Otto Wallin in 2023 in Riyadh and then faced Francis Ngannou again in 2024, knocking him out.
