Tyson Fury warm-up opponent update drops ahead of Anthony Joshua showdown

Tyson Fury’s promoter and Queensbury chief Frank Warren has issued an update on the Gypsy King’s proposed warm-up fight before he takes on Anthony Joshua later in 2026.

Fury successfully returned from a 16-month lay-off with a unanimous points decision victory over Russia’s Arslanbek Makhmudov at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium in April before becoming embroiled in a war of words with fellow Brit Joshua, who was sat ringside.

Since then, both Warren and Joshua’s promoter and Matchroom chief Eddie Hearn have confirmed that ‘AJ’ and the ‘Gypsy King’ have signed a contract for a blockbuster all-British fight in the latter part of 2026.

However, no official date or venue has been confirmed. Before taking on Fury, Joshua — who has not fought since defeating Jake Paul last December, just days before he was involved in a fatal car accident that claimed the lives of his two friends, Latif “Latz” Ayodele and Sina Ghami — will face little-known Albanian Kristian Prenga in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, on July 25.

Meanwhile, Warren has suggested that Fury may also take part in a tune-up fight to stay active before the Joshua bout.

Frank Warren issues Tyson Fury update

Last week, former unified heavyweight champion and two-time opponent of Joshua, Andy Ruiz Jr, claimed that Fury had texted him offering to fight, but Warren has since rubbished the claim, saying his fighter will not take on the Mexican-American.

Speaking to The Sun, Warren said: “He will fight, he wants to fight — he’s made that very clear. He doesn’t want to be back in the ring by November, which I think will be a gap of about seven or eight months.

“He wants to fight, he doesn’t want to be rusty again and he wants to get in there, but it won’t be against Andy Ruiz.

“I think there’s a very, very good chance [he will fight before facing Joshua].”

It is reported that a date in August is being targeted for Fury’s next bout.

Fury currently boasts a record of 35-1-2, with both of his defeats coming at the hands of Oleksandr Usyk.

Joshua has won 29 of his 33 bouts in the paid ranks, with his four defeats coming against Usyk (x2), Daniel Dubois and Ruiz Jr.