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Joshua Wants A Tune-Up, Fury Will Have To Wait

hasib

15 April 2026

Anthony Joshua plots his path back to boxing, but a Tyson Fury fight will have to wait.

According to Matchroom’s Eddie Hearn, the fight is now being steered toward a November 2026 date, allowing Joshua a necessary tune-up fight this July. Since defeating Jake Paul in late 2025, Joshua’s life was upended by a devastating incident during a trip to Nigeria.

On December 29, 2025, a fatal vehicle collision on Nigeria’s Lagos-Ibadan highway left Joshua with minor injuries. However, the emotional damage was severe, as the crash claimed the lives of his close friends and vital camp members: strength specialist Sina Ghami and trainer Latif "Latz" Ayodele.

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This forced Joshua to scrap a targeted March return. Hearn is adamant that Joshua won’t dive into the deep end against Fury immediately. With the Fury contract currently under legal review by Team Joshua, the roadmap for the remainder of 2026 is becoming clear.

While the name Deontay Wilder continues to circulate following the American’s victory over Derek Chisora, Hearn suggested the opponent will be someone who provides a stern test without jeopardizing the massive end-of-year payday. While the terms are on the table, Hearn insists that Joshua’s mental well-being and competitive sharpness take precedence.

Hearn Reacts

"We received the contract last week, we are going through that. He is about to get the all clear in terms of the physical side to return to full training, and that is great news. We expect to see him back in the ring in July. I think it is very likely [he will have a tune-up fight]. Fury has just had his tune-up fight with 12 really vital rounds to get him sharp for the next one, and I expect us to do the same," Hearn said

Phase	Estimated Date	Objective
Recovery	Jan – April 2026	Physical & Emotional Healing
Training Camp	May – June 2026	Re-establishing Tactical Form
The Return	July 2026	Interim "Tune-Up" Contest
The Mega-Fight	November 2026	Tyson Fury (Undisputed Stakes)

For Joshua, the next few months are about more than just boxing; they are about honoring the memory of the teammates he lost by returning to his best. If he successfully navigates a July warm-up, the stage will finally be set for the fight with Fury.