Tyson Fury will fight Anthony Joshua this year, says Spencer Brown, promoter of comeback bout against Arslankbek Makhmudov
Tyson Fury will fight Anthony Joshua this year, says his manager Spencer Brown; "It will be the World Cup final of boxing," Brown said of Fury versus Joshua. "If AJ does have a warm-up, it goes two months down the line but we're going to see it this year"
Friday 10 April 2026 06:25, UK
Tyson Fury will fight Anthony Joshua this year, manager Spencer Brown tells Sky Sports.
Brown is also the promoter of Fury's comeback bout against Arslanbek Makhmudov at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium on Saturday.
Fury can set up his long-awaited showdown with Joshua with a victory over Makhmudov.
- Tyson Fury: I'll make an example of Arslanbek Makhmudov!
- Fury to AJ: Forget Wilder, or anybody else, let's fight next!
- Edgar Berlanga and Richardson Hitchins sign with Zuffa Boxing
- Get Sky Sports or stream with no contract on NOW
"Let's go. Boxing at the moment is in a very special place," Brown told Sky Sports. "It would just be phenomenal. It will be the World Cup final of boxing, for me anyway.
"We've wanted it for a long time, it's now time. If he [AJ] does have a warm-up, it goes two months down the line but we're going to see it this year.
"I think so."
Fury and Joshua have come close to fighting before in what would be one of the biggest fights on the planet. But it is yet to be made.
The wait for it could be extended further if Joshua takes a tune up bout first. Joshua, who beat YouTuber Jake Paul in a December bout, is recovering from a car accident which saw two of his close friends lose their lives.
"I don't necessarily think it has to be next for AJ after what he's been through and what he's seen," Brown said.
"I think he's got two decisions to make. Goes in and has a warm-up fight. He's got to pick the right opponent.
"AJ either does that or he goes: 'You know what, I've had my warm-up fight, I'm going into camp, I'm going to do the best I can and I'm going to beat Tyson Fury' and then we're on. We're all on.
"[Fury's thinking:] 'Whenever you're ready, I'm there. Not a problem.' It won't be a problem."
Brown added: "But do you wait and wait and wait? There's times we all know when stuff's ready and ready to go. We've had the starter, let's have the main course now and let's get it done.
"It's up to him. He's had a warm-up with Jake Paul. This is a different kind of warm up for Tyson, this is a potential banana skin."
He will hope Makhmudov doesn't derail their plan. "It's a very, very hard fight this. It's a guy who can punch, a guy who can knock you out and he's proved that. He's got a great amateur record, he's strong, he wrestles, he wrestles bears," Brown said.
"This is his World Cup, this is his world title, this is where he comes back in and he changes his life."
AJ to attend Makhmudov fight?
Promoter Spencer Brown has invited Joshua to Saturday's event at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium.
"One million per cent. We've invited him, he'll be there probably, I would have thought so. I think AJ will be there, I think Usyk will be there," Brown said.
