Is Fury-Joshua shine dimmed after madcap weekend?

Both men scored crucial wins in contrasting fashions on opposite sides of the globe to tee up their long-awaited titanic tussle.

Fury secured a seventh-round victory against Mariusz Wach over in Thailand, to hold up his end of the heavyweight bargain.

Then, Joshua survived a pair of shock early knockdowns to dispatch Kristian Prenga with a brutal stoppage in Saudi Arabia.

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Joshua defeats Prenga in dramatic triumph

Watch: 'AJ' survives double knockdown to destroy Albanian

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At the very least, results ensure the duo's clash remains on the make - but has the manner of their turns dimmed the shine?

DAZN News explores whether Fury-Joshua is still the hottest prospect around after this weekend - and whether it matters too.

What unfolded for Fury and Joshua?

Originally rumoured to fight this week on the Pierce O'Leary-Mark Chamberlain card, Fury ultimately stuck close to his camp.

In Wach, a former world title challenger long past his prime, he found a durable body for an effectively glorified sparring bout.

By local accounts, it was a fairly lopsided performance - a second straight win for Fury, but one more to keep him ticking over.

For Joshua, fears that he might not have been ready to return to the ring appeared to be realised after he was dropped twice.

Yet the star showed his spirit and class to wrench back momentum, blowing out knockout artist Prenga in the second round.

What have we learned from it?

Boxing loves to deliver its mixed messages - and in Fury and Joshua, it has two stars who prove great value for high scrutiny.

With two bouts and a dozen-and-a-half rounds under his belt since quitting retirement, 'The Gypsy King' is finding his feet again.

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Against Wach, his penchant for mischief was readily apparent - but he is yet to be truly tested by a more agile opponent as well.

That could prove to be Joshua's advantage - the star showed great pace against Prenga - but the former has hard work to do.

Training with Oleksandr Usyk did not help him avoid two swift knockdowns, suggesting he still has defensive issues to sort out.

Does it matter if the lustre is dimmed?

Frankly, no. There are arguments to be made that Fury-Joshua is a fight well past the prime of its stars - but it remains magnetic.

Usyk, ringside in support of the latter, has voiced a belief that his former foe can be champion again. It speaks to Joshua's pull.

Even without a statement victory for several years, the London 2012 favourite remains a bankable presence and a major draw.

Throw in Fury - another generational heavyweight, the yang to his yin - and all their history, and you've still got a cracking cocktail.

Performances this past weekend were perhaps never going to match expectations. But few will be damned if they miss their eventual showdown.

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