The fight that has haunted British boxing for almost a decade is back on the table. Tyson Fury vs Anthony Joshua, once the dream undisputed clash that fell apart in 2021, is now being planned for 2026 as the centerpiece of a huge Riyadh Season boxing event in Saudi Arabia.

It is not signed. It is not locked in. But from Riyadh to London, the wheels are clearly turning.

Fury vs Joshua: The 2026 Riyadh Season Superfight

According to reports from outlets including Ring Magazine, ESPN and others, the long-awaited showdown between Tyson Fury and Anthony Joshua is being lined up to headline a Riyadh Season card in 2026, in the Saudi Arabian capital of Riyadh.

As Ring Magazine reported, “a bout between the former heavyweight champions is planned to headline a Riyadh Season card in 2026.” Other reports describe it even more simply: “Tyson Fury and Anthony Joshua are set to collide in a headlining bout at a Riyadh Season boxing event in 2026.”

Riyadh Season has quickly become a hub for mega-fights, and this one would fit the pattern. No world titles are expected to be on the line, but that almost does not matter. This is the biggest all-British heavyweight rivalry of this era finally being given a date on the calendar, even if it is still written in pencil.

“No belts, no problem – this is the fight British boxing has owed us for years.”

Nothing Signed Yet – But Confidence Is Growing

For now, the key phrase is “reportedly planned”. This is not an official announcement. There are no posters, no press tour, no contract details in public.

But the language coming out of both sides is noticeably positive. As one report put it, “It is understood nothing has yet been finalised but there is growing confidence that a fight will take place and both camps are working towards making it happen in 2026.”

In boxing, that matters. Big fights usually die when one side goes quiet. Here, both seem to be pushing in the same direction, helped by serious money and a clear venue from Saudi Arabia, which is “expected to host the long-awaited meeting between two of British boxing’s most successful heavyweights.”

Where Fury and Joshua Stand in 2025

The timing of this planned fight is fascinating. This is not Fury and Joshua as unbeaten champions trying to become undisputed kings. This is something different: two former champions trying to rebuild their names and pride.

Tyson Fury stands at 34-2-1 (24 KOs). He is officially retired after suffering back-to-back defeats to Oleksandr Usyk in 2024. Those losses ended his claim as lineal heavyweight champion and raised questions about how much he has left physically and mentally.

Anthony Joshua, 28-4 (25 KOs), is also coming off a major setback. In September 2024, he was stopped in the fifth round by fellow Brit Daniel Dubois, a loss that shook his latest comeback and again put his future under the spotlight.

So when these two talk about 2026, it is not just about money or legacy. It is also about redemption. Who can adjust? Who can reinvent themselves one more time?

“We dreamed of Fury–AJ for undisputed. Now it might be two wounded lions fighting for something even more real – respect.”

The Warm-Up Fights: Road to Riyadh in 2026

This potential mega-fight will not be the first time either man steps into the ring in 2026. Reports suggest both Fury and Joshua will have separate warm-up bouts early that year as part of the wider Riyadh Season schedule.

Those tune-ups would serve several purposes:

• Shake off ring rust
• Test if their bodies still hold up at elite level
• Rebuild some momentum and fan belief before the big night

Some possible names have already been floated. For Fury, heavy-handed contenders like Arslanbek Makhmudov or Chinese southpaw Zhilei Zhang have been mentioned as potential opponents. Both are dangerous, both are big, and both would be clear signals that Fury is serious about one last big run.

For Joshua, a fourth meeting with veteran Derek Chisora has been discussed. Chisora is a familiar name to British fans, tough, experienced, and would likely give Joshua rounds without the same level of risk as a prime, young contender.

It is important to note that Joshua’s next fight, a December 19 showdown with YouTuber-turned-boxer Jake Paul in Miami, is completely separate from these Riyadh plans. That bout is an eight-rounder, will be streamed on Netflix, and is not counted as part of the 2026 warm-up schedule for Fury vs Joshua.

The Fight That Got Away in 2021 – And Why 2026 Is Different

The Fury vs Joshua story cannot be told without going back to 2021. That was supposed to be the year. At that point, Joshua held multiple heavyweight belts, Fury was WBC champion, and the two agreed to fight in Saudi Arabia for the undisputed title.

Then the legal issue with Deontay Wilder hit. An arbitration ruling forced Fury into a third fight with Wilder, and the entire Fury–Joshua deal fell apart. Fury went on to stop Wilder in their trilogy bout, while Joshua’s path changed completely after back-to-back losses to Oleksandr Usyk.

Since then, their rivalry has lived more on social media than in the ring – callouts, interviews, leaked offers, blame from both sides. The matchup became one of boxing’s biggest “what-ifs”. Fans wondered if it would become another Lennox Lewis vs Riddick Bowe: the fight that never truly happened.

Now, in 2026, the context is much simpler, even if the men are more battle-worn. No titles to juggle. No undisputed negotiations. Just two British heavyweights with huge names, deep history, and a shared need for a defining ending to their careers.

“If Fury–AJ happens in 2026, it’s not about belts – it’s about who tells the story of this era when it’s all over.”

Saudi Arabia’s Grip on Boxing’s Biggest Nights

One point that is not in doubt: Saudi Arabia, and Riyadh in particular, has become the new home of heavyweight blockbusters.

The planned Fury vs Joshua fight fits a clear pattern. The country, through its Riyadh Season brand, has moved fast to secure the sport’s biggest names and events. By placing this long-awaited British superfight in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia strengthens its control over the very top end of the boxing market.

For fans in the UK, that means the biggest British rivalry of the last decade probably will not happen on home soil. Instead of Wembley Stadium, the backdrop is likely the bright lights of a Riyadh super-card, with a global audience watching on pay-per-view or streaming.

What This Fight Means for Both Men

Even without belts, Fury vs Joshua in 2026 would carry huge stakes:

• For Tyson Fury, it is a chance to close the book on his career with the biggest British box office fight of his era, and to answer questions after the Usyk defeats.
• For Anthony Joshua, it is the opportunity he has chased since he first won Olympic gold in 2012 – not for undisputed glory anymore, but for the right to say he faced the man many called the best of his time.

Win, and the story of your career changes. Lose, and the questions about “what could have been” grow louder.

The Reality Check: Obstacles Still in the Way

For all the excitement, the facts remain simple: the fight is not done yet. Contracts need to be signed, warm-up fights need to be won, and both men need to stay healthy, motivated and marketable through 2025 and early 2026.

Reports have already warned that “obstacles remain” for making Joshua vs Fury a reality. Those obstacles can be:

• Injuries in tune-up fights
• Surprise defeats that damage demand
• Contract disagreements over money, rematch clauses or broadcast rights
• Changes in Fury’s retirement status or desire to return

Still, the tone around this latest push feels more coordinated than past false starts. Saudi Arabia wants the fight. Fans still care. Both fighters seem interested in one last enormous payday and one last defining night.

Looking Ahead to 2026: Hope, Hype and a Long Wait

The idea of waiting until 2026 for Fury vs Joshua will frustrate some fans. Both men will be older. The heavyweight scene may have moved on with new names and new belts.

But in boxing, some rivalries are bigger than timing. Fans watched Floyd Mayweather vs Manny Pacquiao five years later than they wanted, and still turned it into one of the biggest events in sports history. If Fury and Joshua finally share a ring in Riyadh, the same idea applies: this is about closure as much as peak performance.

Until anything is made official, the story remains what it has been for years: so close, yet still not quite real. But for the first time in a long time, the pieces seem to be moving in the same direction.

Two former heavyweight champions. One long-delayed rivalry. A Saudi Arabian stage. And a single, simple question hanging over 2026: will boxing finally deliver Fury vs Joshua before the clock runs out on both of them?