Anthony Joshua wants Tyson Fury to fight ‘more than anything’ – promoter Eddie Hearn explains the plan that would lead to it | Boxing News

Plans are being put in place that could lead Anthony Joshua to the ‘biggest fight in sport’ with Tyson Fury.

Fury, who missed all of 2025, has indicated he wants to box again next year.

Anthony Joshua’s promoter Eddie Hearn has welcomed Fury’s expected return.

“That’s exactly what everyone wanted to hear,” Hearn said. Aerial sports. “What AJ wants more than anything is to fight Tyson Fury.

“It’s the biggest fight in sport…I’m hopeful.

“The only thing that is close to this level [for Joshua] is to win the world heavyweight championship again, which is a great motivation for him.”

The showdown with Fury would take place next summer, with Joshua boxing at least once, but possibly twice, before then.

There is a “small chance” Joshua could box before the end of this year and he will fight in early 2026, potentially in February.

“The plan is very important,” Hearn said. “The most important thing is to make sure he is 110% confident and ready to beat Tyson Fury. We have to be able to plan that for AJ to make sure he is in the best place possible for what I believe will be the biggest moment of his career.

“If he fights this year, it will be a complete defeat. It will not be a top 15,” the promoter continued. “Either he will have these two fights before Tyson Fury, if that can be done, or he will have the one fight in February.

“We haven’t really decided yet but he wants to become active.”

Fury would, in all likelihood, have a focus on himself. This could be a risk. Previous fights with Otto Wallin, for example, and Francis Ngannou were warm-ups for bigger fights that proved trickier than expected.

But Hearn reflects: “If he can’t win the tune-up, then he shouldn’t get in the ring. [with AJ].

“We want both guys to be firing on all cylinders to give the audience the best version of themselves and if we can’t get the best version of them then maybe we won’t fight.

“What we don’t want is two guys who have been out for a year and a half and are both a little rusty.

“We need to allow these guys, who have been out of the ring for a long time, to be in all their glory when they meet.”

Allen the test Itauma needs

Dave Allen could see himself as a potential opponent for Joshua ahead of the Fury fight, if the Doncaster man can beat Arslanbek Makhmudov on Saturday.

“All I’m saying is a win would probably put him in the top 20, top 15 in the world, which he already does with the WBA and we’re going to pick from a list like that. And he’s British. And he’s very popular. I don’t know who that would be. [for the AJ warm-up]” said Hearn.

“I don’t think there’s a single heavyweight in the world, outside of Oleksandr Usyk, that you couldn’t compete with Dave Allen if he wins on Saturday.

“I even put Anthony Joshua in this mix, I put Tyson Fury in this mix because these are two guys who are going to fight for their ‘comeback’. [Moses] Itauma is Derek Chissa, Andy Ruiz, Deontta Wilbael, Zhing, Zhing.

Allen could make sense for rising star Moses Itauma.

“I don’t think there’s a fight Dave wouldn’t take. It’s about the money at this point,” Hearn explained. “Itauma is a very tough fight, but Dave has a good style of testing the things we don’t know about Moses. Which is the chin, the motor and how tough he is, basically.

“Dave is the guy who can weather the storm and take you on these rides to find out. He’s obviously an underdog against Moses, like a lot of people.

“But again, one step at a time, Saturday night and then the world is his oyster, as they say.”