Frank Warren admits Anthony Joshua vs Tyson Fury fight could yet be scrapped

Queensberry chief Frank Warren has issued a stark warning while confirming the potential reason Anthony Joshua and Tyson Fury’s all-British showdown may not happen.

At long last, earlier this week, former two-time world champions Joshua and Fury finally signed a deal to fight in the latter part of 2026.

The pair recently became embroiled in a verbal exchange following Fury’s unanimous decision victory over Arslanbek Makhmudov at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium on April 11.

Fury made it clear that he wanted AJ next, which prompted the Watford-born heavyweight to call his soon-to-be opponent a “clout-chaser” before branding himself “the landlord”, declaring: “I’m the boss, you work for me”.

And with both fighters’ promoters, Eddie Hearn and Warren, confirming that the deal has been signed, fans are finally getting excited about arguably the biggest all-British heavyweight showdown since Frank Bruno vs Lennox Lewis in 1993.

Joshua loss would scupper Fury fight plans

Unfortunately, the fight could still be scuppered if one unthinkable thing happens.

Before potentially fighting Fury, Joshua will take on little-known Albanian Kristian Prenga in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.

According to Warren, if Joshua fails to win, this could completely destroy the chances of the Fury bout happening.

The Queensberry chief also suggested Fury may choose to fight before the blockbuster clash.

"If he loses to this guy, it kills the fight," Warren told BBC Sport, before also suggesting the bout may happen in “late October”.

"Tyson wants to keep busy," he added. "That's the mentality he has. When he's in the gym, he goes to the gym for his mental well-being, as well as physically.

"He needs focus, a date for when he's going to fight, and at the moment we don't have that date."

So if Fury comes through and beats Joshua, what comes next?

Although at age 37, another retirement may not be far away, Warren claims Fury may look to rectify his previous losses against Oleksandr Usyk with a third showdown.

"Tyson has made it very plain he'd like to fight [Oleksandr] Usyk again, so maybe that could be an option."

Usyk remains the only man to have beaten Fury in his nearly two-decade professional career. The Ukrainian also handed Joshua two of his four career defeats, with the other two coming against Daniel Dubois and Andy Ruiz Jr.