Hearn confirms Fury vs Joshua deal signed

Anthony Joshua has officially signed to fight Tyson Fury in what promises to be the biggest heavyweight bout in British boxing history and one of the most anticipated of all time. 

Promoter Eddie Hearn confirmed the deal on Monday, posting on Instagram: “Signed, sealed, delivered! AJ v Fury is on!”. 

The two former world champions, who have been poking at each other for nearly a decade, will finally meet in the ring later this year, with November being the targeted month for the showdown.

Before meeting Fury, however, Joshua will first go up against Albanian heavyweight Kristian Prenga on July 25 in Riyadh. 

This will be his first bout since a tragic car accident last December that claimed the lives of two close friends. 

The Fury fight, widely looked forward to by fans and pundits alike, is expected to take place in the UK, with Wembley Stadium among the venues under consideration. 

Netflix will stream the event live this autumn, marking a major milestone in boxing’s push into mainstream streaming platforms.

Fury, 37, recently returned from his fifth retirement with a victory over Arslanbek Makhmudov at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, where he immediately called out Joshua ringside. “I’ve signed, it’s done,” Fury said after the fight, adding that Joshua was brought to the event specifically to finalize the agreement. 

Saudi boxing chief Turki Alalshikh also confirmed the deal via X, writing: “To my friends in Great Britain – it’s happening. It’s signed”. Hearn referred to the matchup as the most significant deal he’s ever executed and one that he had always desired.

The two British icons have long been linked in negotiations, with a 2021 agreement for an undisputed world heavyweight title fight falling through before it could materialize. 

This time, the terms appear locked in, with reports suggesting a three-fight deal that includes this grudge match. 

Joshua, who lost to Fury’s rival Oleksandr Usyk twice, is looking to rebuild his legacy, while Fury aims to cement his status as one of the sport’s all-time greats. 

The purse split remains undisclosed, though Fury dismissed the importance, saying, “If he gets £600 million, good luck to him, and if I get 50p, good luck to me”.