Following Tyson’s Fury’s return on April 11 against Russian Arslanbek Makhmudov at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, his promoter Frank Warren has made it clear that the former world heavyweight champion has one objective for the second half of 2026 — a big fight, and he wants it done by the end of summer.
Warren says Fury intends to use the Makhmudov bout, his first outing since suffering back-to-back losses to Oleksandr Usyk in 2024, as a launching pad for something much bigger. The clock, according to Warren, is already ticking.
The elephant in the room, as it has been for the better part of a decade, is Anthony Joshua. The all-British heavyweight showdown is still on the table, but Joshua’s availability is far from guaranteed, as the fatal car accident late last year that killed two of his close friends has had an emotional toll on him and there is no telling when he will be back in the ring. The message from the Fury camp is simple: if Joshua is ready and wants the fight, Fury will show up. If he isn’t, Fury won’t wait around.
If Joshua doesn’t come to the table in time, there are alternatives including WBO heavyweight champion Fabio Wardley, who has publicly stated he’s ready and waiting for Fury, however he must get past his defense against Dubois first.