Turki Alalshikh confirmed this week that the two biggest names in British boxing have finally signed to fight each other towards the end of 2026.

First, Joshua must get through his scheduled tune-up fight against Albania’s Kristian Prenga in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, on July 25. Promoter Warren has confirmed that Fury is unlikely to wait around for Joshua.

“I think Fury will probably want to be doing something in between,” Warren said on a media roundtable Thursday afternoon. “Let’s see what happens.

“AJ has got his fight and Tyson, I’m quite sure, will have a fight in between.

“That’s what he’s asking for and we'll see where we go from there.”

Aside from a sixth-round knockout of Jake Paul in December, two-time world heavyweight champion Joshua has not boxed since he was stopped by Daniel Dubois at Wembley Stadium in 2024.

As such, he requested a run-out before heading into arguably the biggest fight in British boxing history against Fury.

Earlier this month, the "Gypsy King" called time on his most recent retirement when he faced Arslanbek Makhmudov at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium in a fight his dad John and wife Paris implored him not to take.

But Fury carried on regardless, beating Makhmudov comfortably on points before turning his attention to Joshua, who watched from ringside.

Although the London 2012 Olympic champion refused to enter the ring for a face-off that night, he has since put pen to paper on a deal to finally fight Fury.