Tyson Fury plans to compete in an interim bout this year before facing Anthony Joshua, according to his promoter Frank Warren. The two heavyweight stars recently signed a contract for their highly anticipated showdown, slated for the UK this autumn, possibly November.

Upcoming Schedules

Anthony Joshua prepares for his next fight against Kristian Prenga in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, on July 25. Fury appears poised to schedule a similar tune-up match.

Frank Warren addressed Fury’s intentions, stating: “I think he will probably want to be doing something in between. Let’s see. AJ has got his fight. Tyson I’m quite sure will have a fight in between. That’s what he’s asking for, and we’ll see where we go from there.”

Fury’s manager, Spencer Brown, echoed the sentiment: “The thing is, Tyson was out of the ring for two years, just jumped back in. We’ll probably want another fight before the AJ fight – a proper warm-up fight – and then we’re all ready to go, ready to rock and roll. But it will be nice for Tyson to have one more fight before we step in. Anthony wants one more fight, so if it’s in July, we won’t be able to do anything ‘til October, November, December. So, [a warm-up fight] is going to have to happen quite rapidly.”

Recent Performances

The 37-year-old Fury last fought on April 11, dominating Arslanbek Makhmudov by points at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium—his fifth return from retirement after a 16-month layoff. Joshua, 36, attended the event ringside but declined a post-fight confrontation, awaiting the official contract signing.

Joshua’s Opponent and Historical Context

Prenga, a 35-year-old Albanian with a 20-1 record (20 KOs), lacks high-profile victories. This matchup serves as Joshua’s final step toward the Fury clash, a decade-long rivalry nearly realized in 2021 until Deontay Wilder’s legal challenge forced Fury’s trilogy bout, ending in a knockout win for Fury.

Fury’s push for another fight introduces potential risks, including injury concerns for either fighter despite favorable matchups.