Huge news as Turki Alalshikh vows to deliver British megafight at last
We’ve waited for so long, we’ve had our hearts broken so many times, as boxing fans it is always the hope that kills you.
But despite the disappointment we’ve felt on so many occasions, we once again have reason to believe that Tyson Fury vs Anthony Joshua will happen at last in 2026.
This is a bout that should have happened in 2021, with both men at the peak of their powers and both owning world heavyweight titles. They actually signed a two-fight deal with the first match set for August 21 – with the undisputed title on the line.
READ: Why Anthony Joshua risks ruining legacy with Jake Paul fight
But then up popped Deontay Wilder to win an arbitration ruling to force a third fight against Fury, Joshua rerouted to face Oleksandr Usyk and lost his titles in the process. And the golden opportunity disappeared.
There have been more false starts since when a fight looked possible, but now it is without doubt the biggest fight left for either man. Once which surely is necessary to put a bow on this particular heavyweight era.
Neither man of course holds a world heavyweight title right now – Usyk owns all of the marbles in the sport’s marquee weight class – but a meeting of the two Brits is still expected to earn each man north of £50m for one night’s work.
As of now Joshua is preparing to return after elbow surgery, while Fury appears to be happily retired since January 2025. But never say never in heavyweight boxing, and that is because one Turki Alalshikh is on the case.
The 44-year-old Chairman of Saudi Arabia’s General Entertainment Authority has rewritten boxing history in the last two years, making fights which had before seemed impossible. Circumventing boxing politics to usher in a new era of megafights.
Fury vs Joshua might be the biggest one left on his ‘to do list’, and this week Joshua’s promoter Eddie Hearn confirmed that Alalshikh is making it his mission to ensure that the all-British blockbuster does happen in 2026.
Hearn on Fury vs Joshua
Hearn explained that the plan with Alalshikh is for two Joshua fights in 2026 – one of them being that Fury blockbuster. The first a tune-up. Of course this was before all that talk of AJ fighting Jake Paul next month.
He told talkSPORT: “I don’t know if we will fight Jake Paul yet, but next year we will fight in February and then we will fight Tyson Fury, if Turki Alalshikh delivers on his plans and strategies.
“We spoke with him in London this week – everything we do with Anthony Joshua will be in accordance with, and under the guidance of, Turki Alalshikh. He has given us amazing opportunities and the game plan will be put together with him.”
So there you have it, a clear plan for Fury vs Joshua to meet in 2026. But hang on, isn’t Fury happily retired?
Hearn does not believe Turki will fail
Hearn added: “It’s Turki Alalshikh’s responsibility to talk to Tyson Fury and try and make the deal. I can’t tell you we’re fighting Tyson Fury. What I can tell you is, Turki Alalshikh has told us ‘I am going to make AJ v Tyson Fury, this is your deal, do you accept?’. We have accepted.
“Is the fight made? No, because I don’t know where he’s at with Tyson Fury. All I know is he’s yet to fail in delivering a fight. If AJ doesn’t fight Tyson Fury, Turki Alalshikh has failed to make the fight. It will be on him, and I don’t believe he will fail.
“I believe you will see AJ against Tyson Fury in 2026.”
So what happens next? Yes Fury says he’s happily retired, and why would anybody not believe him? But this is the fight game, he’s a fighting man and these guys are called prizefighters for a reason.
If you ask us to predict what happens next, the cheque Turki offers is a massive one, big enough to tempt just about anybody out of retirement.
Fury vs Joshua finally happens in 2026. It has to, and it will.
