What could still jeopardise Joshua-Fury fight after tune-up wins?

The pair are expected to meet at the backend of 2026, but will it be plain sailing between two fighters who’ve been exchanging barbs for the best part of a decade? 

The fight looks set to happen in November, but boxing rarely runs smoothly, and here are several factors that could derail the Joshua vs Fury fight. 

---

Joshua defeats Prenga in dramatic triumph

Watch: 'AJ' survives double knockdown to destroy Albanian

Location problems 

The most logical venue for the fight is Wembley Stadium, but with organisers eager to stage the fight in America to satisfy the demand of Netflix, the English version of this event would have to be a 2am start. 

With that presenting logistical problems for the organisers in terms of public transport and Wembley's strict curfew, the U.K. may not stage the fight despite both men being English. 

New York and Las Vegas have been mentioned, but with British fight fans desperate to see this fight unfold on their doorstep, this could be a significant problem for those staging the fight. 

Are both men satisfied with their recent performances? 

Fury laboured to a late stoppage win over Mariusz Wach in Thailand, and the following night, Joshua had to get off the floor twice to beat Kristian Prenga. 

These were meant to be fights where each man intended to shine, but both bouts have provided more questions than answers. 

Will Joshua and Fury really want to head into the biggest fight of their lives on such form? Or are more tune-ups desired by both boxers? 

Mark Robinson/Matchroom Boxing

Could a title shot tempt either man? 

After Oleksandr Usyk recently gave up the heavyweight belts, the division is now wide open when it comes to receiving a belt opportunity. 

Agit Kabayel and Murat Gassiev are now world champions, and those fighters could be seen as ideal targets for Joshua and Fury. 

It’s clear the time is now for Joshua vs Fury, but Usyk’s decision to relinquish the belts once held by the Brits could prompt a change of thought. 

The history of Joshua and Fury 

We have been here before with Joshua and Fury. Rivals for a decade and linked to fights on so many occasions, getting the two in the ring, even for a face-off, has been problematic. 

In 2026, there’s not much left for either man to do but face each other, so maybe they know that the time is right. 

That feeling has existed before with no confirmed fight, so there’s a small chance history could repeat itself. 

Moses Itauma vs. Hrgovic - exclusively on DAZN PPV

Watch Moses Itauma take his next step in his unstoppable career against Filip Hrgovic on Saturday, August 29, only on DAZN.

Buy as a one-off PPV or included along with Romero vs. Lopez (Aug 22) and Canelo vs. Mbilli (Oct) PPVs with a DAZN Ultimate Tier subscription.

For more information, pricing, and to buy, click here.