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Agence France-Presse

Anthony Joshua’s promoter Eddie Hearn has dismissed comments from Tyson Fury that the long-awaited clash between the two former world heavyweight boxing champions may not happen.
Fury and Joshua are both back in the ring this week for bouts against Poland’s Mariusz Wach and Albania’s Kristian Prenga, respectively, that are seen as must-win warm-up fights if their ‘Battle of Britain’ is to go ahead.
Fury, 37, faces Wach in the Thai resort of Pattaya on Friday in what is effectively a charity contest, with no live broadcast, while compatriot Joshua, 36, is in action the following day in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia.
The British rivals are expected to finally meet in November, with a date and venue yet to be announced for a bout many boxing fans wish had taken place when at least one of the duo still held a world championship belt.
Two-time heavyweight champion Joshua’s bout with Prenga will be his first professional fight since being involved in a car crash in Nigeria in December that killed two of his close friends.

Fury, in a recent interview with Sky Sports, said he is prepared to face “somebody else” later this year.
But Hearn insisted Fury was more likely to pull out given his record.
“Look at history,” Hearn told Sky Sports. “Check the facts, check the résumé. If you really want to pick one fighter who’s more reliable than the other, I don’t think it’s a close-run race.
“What fight has AJ ever pulled out of?... do not forget, AJ has not only fought every contender he could have, he also previously signed to fight Tyson Fury, who pulled out of the fight because of an arbitration ruling involving Deontay Wilder.
“The only thing that’s going to stop the fight from happening in November is if one of these guys gets beaten this weekend or picks up an injury.”
Joshua, speaking on Wednesday, said he was still struggling to process the deaths of Sina Ghami and Latif ‘Latz’ Ayodele, who were both killed in the crash near Lagos on December 29.
“It’s tough, every time I think about it, it hurts,” Joshua told the BBC. “Even talking about it now … pictures … it hurts but I keep my mind occupied you know. If I stop, you let it sink in and I’m not ready for it to sink in yet.”
Ghami was Joshua’s full-time sport and exercise rehabilitation coach and worked with him for more than 10 years, with Ayodele, also a close friend, his personal trainer
Saturday’s bout will be Joshua’s first competitive fight since his knockout loss to IBF world champion Daniel Dubois at Wembley Stadium in September 2024.


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Boxing

Britain’s Tyson Fury (left) ahead of his charity boxing bout against Poland’s Mariusz Wach in Pattaya. Photo: AFP

Anthony Joshua (right) and promotor Eddie Hearn answer questions from the media in Riyadh. Photo: Reuters

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Sport

Tyson Fury will fight in Pattaya on Friday, with Anthony Joshua stepping into Jeddah ring on Saturday ahead of their ‘Battle of Britain’


Tyson Fury will fight in Pattaya on Friday, with Anthony Joshua stepping into Jeddah ring on Saturday ahead of their ‘Battle of Britain’.


Tyson Fury

Deontay Wilder

Anthony Joshua

Tyson Fury readies for Thai fight, wonders if Joshua will be a no-show in November

.css-1c6uqr6{color:inherit;font-weight:inherit;font-size:inherit;font-family:inherit;line-height:inherit;overflow-wrap:break-word;}Tyson Fury will fight in Pattaya on Friday, with Anthony Joshua stepping into Jeddah ring on Saturday ahead of their ‘Battle of Britain’

Tyson Fury will fight in Pattaya on Friday, with Anthony Joshua stepping into Jeddah ring on Saturday ahead of their ‘Battle of Britain’