Jake Paul, an Albanian banger, and Makhmudov: The crazy journey to Joshua vs Fury

The road towards Anthony Joshua vs Tyson Fury was never intended to run smoothly. 

How could it? This is boxing after all, and in a sport or business where Area titles can be difficult to get over the line, dealing with two of the modern era’s biggest profiles must be stressful for all involved. 

Yesterday, at long last, Turki Alalshikh, the man responsible for so many high-profile fights in recent years, teased that the fight was done and would take place in the last part of 2026, with Netflix being the broadcaster for the gargantuan event. The Ring's Mike Coppinger later confirmed all the details.

Moments later, it was revealed that Joshua would first take on Kristian Prenga in Saudi Arabia on July 25, meaning that, like Fury, who defeated Arslanbek Makhmudov earlier this month, Joshua will have a warm-up fight as he makes one more stop before the most eagerly anticipated fight of his career.  

For some, Prenga and Makhmudov being last-minute obstacles may water down the appeal of this fight, considering where both fighters once found themselves in the heavyweight division. 

Once considered the two biggest names in boxing, this was a certain heavyweight blockbuster once upon a time, where every single prize in heavyweight boxing was expected to be on the line between two men at their absolute best. 

Joshua and Fury were expected to keep collecting titles as they knocked over any fighter who got in their way, with the result being one of the grandest heavyweight fights of all time between two men who had trodden their footsteps all over Great Britain, mainland Europe, and America. 

The unlikely stumbling blocks

Instead, what awaits us is two men going all out and putting everything on the line following a disastrous few years that have seen men pushed to the brink both inside and outside the ring.  

Nothing was meant to get in the way of Joshua vs Fury when both were soaring to incredible heights, but ahead of their likely November showdown, novices, YouTubers, and unknown punchers appear to be the only stumbling blocks. 

That was not the original plan when the seeds of this drawn-out saga were originally planted, but with fighters like Joshua and Fury, is a plan even required in the first place when the masses want to see you fight anyway? 

To go back to 2019, a fight between the pair would have seen Fury, in his role of lineal champion, take on Joshua, who held three of the four heavyweight titles.

Both men were unbeaten, Oleksandr Usyk had not yet made his presence felt, and Deontay Wilder, the then WBC champion, would have been waiting for the victor in a huge undisputed battle. 

That year had the potential to provide so much clarity in the heavyweight division, but Joshua was instead stopped by Andy Ruiz, before gaining revenge, whilst Fury built his ledger, getting ready to produce arguably the best win of his career over Wilder in February 2020, before COVID-19 issued a huge blow to boxing and beyond. 

If not 2019, then how about 2021?

Joshua, after beating Ruiz, once again had three belts, and Fury was the WBC ruler after bludgeoning Wilder. Things became difficult when Wilder had the weight of the law on his side when securing a third fight with Fury, and for Joshua, his world came crashing down when Usyk proved his heavyweight credentials with a dominant win at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium. 

Mark Robinson/Getty Images

In 2026, it feels that the period in between now and five years ago has seen Fury and Joshua pursue alternative goals, with Joshua eager to claim a third world title and Fury desperate to become undisputed champion against Usyk. 

Neither man succeeded with their plan as Joshua was destroyed by Daniel Dubois when trying to claim the IBF crown, and Fury was beaten twice by Usyk in 2024, results that forced a 16-month absence that was broken when facing Makhmudov. 

With the fight now officially agreed, the build-up to it has been one nobody could have predicted when each man was at the peak of the division, with stadiums brimming to see two of Britain’s best world champions deliver masterclasses and knockouts. 

Major business despite the lack of titles

For Joshua, his crusade to wherever the fight takes place, most likely Wembley Stadium, is one now littered with tragedy after the death of two close friends in a car crash that saw him escape with only minor injuries last December.

Days before, he had stopped Jake Paul, and now he must get Prenga, who brings a beautiful-looking knockout record, plenty of ambition, but ultimately not enough quality to stop a mega fight. 

For Fury, he will enter the fight on the back of a Makhmudov win, but there are also rumours that he wants another fight. Do not expect any risks to be taken with the pot of gold that awaits him when Joshua is standing in the opposite corner. 

The path to Joshua vs. Fury was once a trail that was adorned with talk of undisputed honours, but as long as they actually fight, then the contest cannot fail to do major business.  

Over a decade in the making, the history between both men and the near misses in negotiations has only intensified the feud.

Regardless of how they both got here, they are here, and boxing could do with each man going all out to deliver as they have never done before, with the eyes of the world on it, despite the year it is taking place.

Benavidez vs. Zurdo on DAZN PPV

Watch David Benavidez versus Gilberto 'Zurdo' Ramirez on DAZN PPV on Saturday, May 2. Buy as a one-off PPV or get it included with the DAZN Ultimate Tier subscription, which also includes the Wardley vs. Dubois (May 9), Usyk vs. Verhoeven (May 23), Fury vs. Hall (June 13), and Zayas vs. Ennis (June 27) PPVs without any extra one-off costs.

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