Tyson Fury confirms possible opponent for Anthony Joshua warm-up fight after rival 'priced himself out'

Tyson Fury has confirmed he could take on Nelson Hysa in his second comeback fight before he faces Anthony Joshua later in the year.

The Gypsy King secured a comfortable victory over Arslanbek Makhmudov back in April as he began preparations for a proposed seismic meeting with Joshua.

Joshua will face Kristian Prenga on July 25 in his own warm-up fight, with Fury yet to confirm his next opponent for his own bout in Dublin this August.

Speaking to iFL TV, Fury confirmed that Albanian heavyweight Hysa was one potential opponent for him this summer. “Nelson’s been one of the names that’s been talked about," he confirmed. "He’s a highly-ranked, undefeated guy and knockout artist."

Fury also claimed that Andy Ruiz Jr. priced himself out of a proposed comeback fight because of his financial demands. Ruiz secured one of the biggest upsets in the history of boxing when he secured a seventh-round technical knockout victory over Joshua.

The British fighter won the rematch by unanimous decision later that year, and the Mexican has only fought three times since then, and he has not bixed since August 2024. If he is to make his comeback, it will have to wait a little while longer.

“Andrew has been contacted. Yeah. As a warm-up fight, because that’s all he is. A little fat bum dosser,” Fury added. “Although he knocked out the bodybuilder, he wouldn’t come close to me. I’d punch his head right in.

“But they asked for ridiculous numbers, like numbers that they can’t generate. Do you know what I mean? This is not a stadium show. It’s just initially a keep-busy fight, back in the ring action job. So yeah, Andy Ruiz priced himself out.”

There is still no confirmation whether Fury will meet Joshua later this year, though there could be movement on the showpiece event if both fighters win their respective warm-ups this summer.

Speaking over the weekend, Eddie Hearn reiterated that he expects the fight to take place, with his preference for it to be hosted in the United Kingdom rather than Saudi Arabia or Las Vegas.

"No confirmed date yet but the plan for the fight is to take place in November, so pick your Saturday in November," Hearn told Sky Sports.

"I think middle Saturday in November is a good shout, but again, we've got to get though Prenga and Fury's fight, which looks like August 1."

He added: "That fight can take place in the snow - I don't really care, as long as it takes place."