Why Tyson Fury's next fight is unlike any boxing match we've seen in years

Tyson Fury returns to the ring on Friday against Mariusz Wach in Pattaya, Thailand - here is everything you need to know ahead of the fight.

Fury returned to boxing in April after announcing his retirement 15 months earlier following a rematch defeat against Oleksandr Usyk, marking his comeback with a unanimous victory over Arslanbek Makhmudov at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium.

The 37-year-old instantly called out Anthony Joshua for the fight "you've all been waiting for", and the two former heavyweight champions are now scheduled to fight in November or December after Turki Alalshikh was able to thrash out an agreement.

But first, Fury has a chance to sharpen his skills for a long-awaited showdown with AJ as he comes against Wach in front of just 1500 spectators, while Joshua locks horns with Kristian Prenga in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, the following day.

Normally, a fight featuring one of the best heavyweights in boxing history would draw excitement, but Fury's clash against Wach is unlike any other we've seen in years for various reasons.

Why isn't Tyson Fury's next fight on TV?

Fury says he will fight at around 10pm local time (4pm UK) on Friday and will, unusually, be the first fight on the card.

The clash against Wach will also not be broadcast live on TV, as it will be shown at a later date as part of season three of 'At Home with the Furys'.

"This great fight will not be streamed live!" Fury wrote in a social media post.

"It will only be broadcast on my hit Netflix TV show At Home with the Furys season 3."

Netflix showcased his most recent fight against Makhmudov, and are likely to broadcast his planned clash with Joshua.

READ NEXT: Why UK fans won't be able to watch Tyson Fury vs Mariusz Wach

Why is the fight taking place behind closed doors?

The fight is also being shown behind closed doors, with organisers confirming there’s no broadcast arrangement in place.

Indeed, that rules out a pay-per-view option, a streaming platform, or a traditional TV channel, and that is uncharted territory for any bust-up involving Fury.

Ever since announcing himself on the big stage with his 2015 victory against Wladimir Klitschko, every one of his fights has attracted global interest.

A showdown against Wach is no different, especially since securing the win will set up a blockbuster showdown with Joshua, but there is a reason why they've decided to keep it behind closed doors.

The fight is designed purely to get Fury rounds and ring sharpness, not to generate broadcast revenue, and this explains why it's taking place in a low-key, 1500 seat arena.

Why was Mariusz Wach chosen as the opponent?

Although Wach is a well-respected fighter, having previously challenged Wladimir Klitschko for the unified world heavyweight champion belt in 2012, the Pole's best years are behind him.

Fury is therefore odds-on favourite to come out of the ring unscathed against the 46-year-old, and he is taking few risks with his choice of opponent to avoid jeopardising the planned Joshua fight.

Wach has lost 11 of his last 17 fights, with his conquerors including Hughie Fury (Tyson's cousin), Dillian Whyte, Frazer Clarke and Moses Itauma.

Why is the fight being held in Thailand?

Rarely a destination for a fight that can attract a global audience, Thailand makes perfect sense for Fury in this instance because he has spent the past few months training there.

The Brit's motive is to also give back to a community that has taken him in by donating ticket profits from the event at the Max Muay Thai Stadium to local charities.

“Its a beautiful thing I'm able to do here, giving back to a great cause, and the WBC will be creating an exclusive belt for the event," Fury said ahead of the showdown.

What role does the Netflix documentary play?

A Netflix documentary, and in this case, 'At Home with the Furys', acts as a major promotional and distribution tool for his future fight.

The documentary can drive mainstream viewership, while capturing behind-the-scenes footage of his training and untelevised fights.

Essentially, it can enable them to capture footage that doesn't normally get picked up by the television cameras and allows Fury to keep a low profile.

With this is mind, fans could find themselves in the peculiar situation of watching Fury's showdown with Joshua first before then being able to see his warm-up against Wach on Netflix.

Will fans be able to watch highlights afterwards?

Fans can't watch the fight live, and unfortunately, the footage is set to feature in the third season of Fury's documentary.

That means there will be no highlights of the fight for supporters to watch afterwards, and they will have to wait for the documentary to drop.