Riyadh Season Lines Up Long-awaited Fury Vs Joshua Heavyweight Showdown

Tyson Fury and Anthony Joshua, two names that have defined British heavyweight boxing for more than a decade, could finally be set for the long-awaited showdown fans have craved.

Plans are being drawn up for the two former heavyweight champions to meet in 2026, with the bout pencilled in as the headline attraction of a Riyadh Season event.

According to reports from The Ring, the bout is not yet official, but the intention is clear. Before they face each other, both men are expected to take separate fights in early 2026 to set the stage.

Joshua, however, has a major date in his diary much sooner. The former unified champion is set to fight Jake Paul on December 19 in Miami in an eight-round contest that will be broadcast globally on Netflix.

The bout represents another high-profile detour for Joshua as he looks to rebuild momentum.

A clash with Fury would see the self-styled Gypsy King return from retirement once again.

The towering 6-foot-9 heavyweight stepped away after suffering consecutive defeats to Oleksandr Usyk, the reigning unified champion and former undisputed ruler of the division. Usyk beat Fury twice in 2024, with the first victory making him the undisputed heavyweight champion.

Joshua, 36, is also searching for redemption. His last outing ended in a fifth-round knockout loss to Daniel Dubois, a result that cast doubt over his future at the very top of the sport. A showdown with Fury would offer both financial reward and a chance to redefine his legacy.

The frustration for fans is that this fight has been within touching distance before. Back in 2021, Fury and Joshua were on the brink of meeting to crown an undisputed heavyweight champion.

Those plans unravelled when Deontay Wilder exercised his rematch clause, forcing Fury into a third bout with the American. Joshua, meanwhile, was diverted towards Usyk.

What followed reshaped the heavyweight scene. Joshua lost a unanimous decision to Usyk, while Fury climbed off the canvas twice to stop Wilder in the 11th round of a brutal contest. Usyk later beat Joshua again before going on to defeat Fury twice, cementing his place at the top of the division.