Frank Warren reveals grand plans for seismic Tyson Fury and Anthony Joshua showdown
Frank Warren is targeting Wembley Stadium for a September 2026 showdown between Tyson Fury and Anthony Joshua, setting up what could be the biggest all-British heavyweight clash in boxing history.
The promotional plans come after Joshua dispatched YouTuber-turned-boxer Jake Paul in the sixth round of their Miami bout, a fight that attracted 33 million viewers on Netflix.
Following his victory, Joshua issued a direct challenge to his domestic rival, urging Fury to meet him in the ring next.
Warren anticipates both heavyweights will need preliminary contests before they can face each other, with the promoter eyeing the national stadium as the natural home for such a significant British sporting event.
Joshua’s next appearance is already confirmed for February in Saudi Arabia, where the 36-year-old has been linked with a crossover bout against kickboxing legend Rico Verhoeven, who is the same age.
Fury, however, remains on holiday with his family, making a February return impossible according to his promoter.
The 37-year-old, who announced his retirement in January after back-to-back defeats to Oleksandr Usyk, could instead step back into the ring around April.
Frank Warren is targeting Wembley Stadium for a September 2026 showdown between Tyson Fury and Anthony Joshua, setting up what could be the biggest all-British heavyweight clash in boxing history
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Warren explained this potential spring contest would serve as preparation for the Joshua encounter.
“That would give him time to prepare and get ready providing all the financials are OK,” Warren told The Sun.
Warren outlined the scheduling challenges facing any potential Wembley date, noting that Fury cannot realistically be expected to remain inactive for seven months when he has already been out of action for close to a year.
Tyson Fury retired from boxing back in January | REUTERS
“For him now to go on holiday and to come back and be ready to fight in February is going to be an impossibility,” Warren added.
The promoter confirmed he had spoken with Fury recently about his intentions.
“I spoke to him a couple of weeks ago, because he’s been travelling and it’s simplistic with Tyson, ‘You know, what my requirements are, if they get met, I’ll be there on the night,'” Warren revealed.
Fury has indicated his desire to return and has been maintaining his fitness, though not specifically training for a fight.
Warren expressed no surprise at the outcome of Joshua’s bout with Paul, viewing it as an inevitable result given the physical disparity between the two men.
“It ended as I expected it to end with the bigger man knocking out the smaller guy,” Warren said.
Anthony Joshua knocked Jake Paul out in the sixth round on Saturday morning
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REUTERS“He’s just too big, too powerful, too much experience against a guy who’s only had 13 fights. Brave as he was.”
The promoter believes Fury would prove too much for Joshua, pointing to their contrasting recent setbacks.
“Tyson’s two losses were against Usyk in very close fights, very close fights. AJ’s last loss, he was on the floor five or six times against Daniel Dubois and Tyson can punch,” Warren stated.
“It’ll be too much for AJ for me all day long.”
