Mega-Fight Joshua vs. Fury already in the works

Turki Al-Sheikh doesn't care whether Tyson Fury takes revenge on heavyweight world champion Oleksandr Usyk at the end of the year or gets beaten by the Ukrainian again. For the powerful boxing puppet master from Saudi Arabia, one thing is clear: the next big thing has to be Fury against Anthony Joshua.

“I will see Fury against Joshua and the world will see Fury against Joshua,” Al-Sheikh told British radio station talkSPORT.

But first Joshua had to win his fight against IBF title holder Daniel Dubois on September 21 at London's Wembley Stadium, said the boxing impresario. Then Joshua against Fury would be a huge fight “for business, of course.”

But you don't know what the future holds, says Al-Sheikh. “Imagine Fury wants to retire after the next fight against Usyk.”

Fury will face WBA/WBC/WBO champion Usyk in a rematch on December 21st – the “Gypsy King” narrowly lost the first duel on points in May.

Boxing: First Joshua against Fury – then possible trilogy with Usyk

Al-Sheikh announced that he would make Fury an offer for a fight against Joshua after the Usyk rematch, regardless of the outcome.

Even if Usyk wins a second time, “I still want to see Fury against Joshua if they accept.” He will not try to organize a third fight between Usyk and Joshua, said the Saudi opponent – “before we have Fury against Joshua.”

Joshua's trainer Ben Davison recently expressed his desire for a third fight between his protégé and Usyk if “AJ” wins against Dubois. Al-Sheikh has other plans.

The 43-year-old heads Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman's Saudi Arabian Entertainment Authority (GAE) and has been calling the shots in boxing for some time. Since the GAE can tap into the kingdom's sovereign wealth fund, the most recent heavyweight bouts as well as other major fights in lower classes have all taken place in Saudi Arabia.

Joshua was world champion of the WBA, WBO and IBF from 2018 – with a short interruption – to 2021, while Fury wore the WBC belt from 2020 to 2023. Both Englishmen lost their crowns to the Ukrainian Usyk.