Tyson Fury and Anthony Joshua are set to participate in individual fights this weekend, with their highly anticipated clash potentially hinging on the outcomes. Both boxers are entering these bouts after periods of limited activity in the ring.
Fury has recorded one victory in the past two years and nine months, while Joshua has secured a single win over the last two years and four months. These upcoming fights are seen as tune-up opportunities for both heavyweights.
Fury’s Thailand outing
Fury is scheduled to fight Mariusz Wach in Pattaya, Thailand on Friday. The event is expected to draw a modest crowd of around 1,500 people and will not be broadcast live on television or streaming platforms. Instead, it will be featured in the third season of his Netflix documentary, ‘At Home with the Furys’.
Wach, a 46-year-old Polish journeyman, has a record that includes 12 losses since challenging Wladimir Klitschko for a world heavyweight title. He was stopped by Moses Itauma in the second round two years ago. Boxing pundit Steve Bunce described Fury’s fight against Wach as one he will not lose under any circumstances, calling it ceremonial. Fury has stated his intention to donate proceeds from the event to local children in need.
The WBC is set to award Fury their inaugural Humanitarian title after the fight, as announced by president Mauricio Sulaimán Jr. Fury’s trip to Thailand is viewed as much for publicity as for preparation, with cameras for his documentary present at ringside.
Despite the low-key nature of the fight, there is a risk that Fury could appear out of form or discover personal flaws, according to Bunce. There is also the possibility of injury during the fight or training, which could jeopardise the future bout with Joshua.
Joshua’s return in Jeddah
Joshua will face Kristian Prenga in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, on Saturday evening. This fight holds significant meaning for Joshua, marking a step in his emotional and psychological recovery following a car crash in Nigeria last December that resulted in the deaths of close friends Sina Ghami and Latif Ayodele.
Promoter Eddie Hearn has spoken about the emotional and physical challenges Joshua faced after the incident, noting that boxing has helped him in his recovery. Hearn highlighted Joshua’s incredible journey to return to training, including cycling for two hours when he could not move his upper body.
Prenga, an Albanian knockout artist, has a record of 20 wins, all by knockout, and one defeat. While largely unknown to the wider public, his record commands respect. Hearn described the fight as designed to be competitive but not overly so, acknowledging Prenga’s danger despite not having fought at Joshua’s level.
Barry Hearn, president of Matchroom, stated that Joshua is in an amazing place and highly motivated. Eddie Hearn praised Joshua’s mental fortitude in returning to the ring after personal tragedy, noting that most people would have given up. Dazn is charging subscribers an additional £19.99 pay-per-view fee to watch the fight.
Joshua expressed his ambition to become undisputed heavyweight champion, stating, “I’ve still got the ambition and hunger.”
The potential super-fight
If both boxers emerge victorious and unscathed, attention will quickly shift to the potential announcement of their super-fight. There is hope that Fury will travel directly from Thailand to Jeddah to join Joshua in the ring for an official announcement.
Saudi Arabia powerbroker Turki Alalshikh, a key figure in facilitating the bout, has indicated that a fight on British soil would require a late-night start at Wembley Stadium to accommodate prime-time American audiences on Netflix. Sources close to the London Mayor Sadiq Khan have suggested the city would be willing to assist in making such an arrangement possible.
However, industry speculation also points towards Las Vegas or New York as potential venues. Eddie Hearn mentioned that Joshua’s contract stipulates the fight should occur in the UK, but he has not ruled out a move to America. The prospect of the fight taking place outside the UK is a difficult one for many British fans to accept.
Fury has expressed doubts about the fight happening and declined an invitation to be ringside in Jeddah on Saturday night, dismissing Joshua with strong words. The two heavyweights have only shared a ring once before, during a sparring session in 2010 when Fury was a 21-year-old prospect and Joshua was a 20-year-old amateur.
Source: bbc.com
Lucy Ashby is a Sports Reporter at NewsGB. She reported on the county circuit and Team GB. She focuses on tennis, cricket and athletics and is known for clear, deadline-driven reporting. She holds a degree in Sport and Media from Durham University and completed an NCTJ diploma. Now based in Durham, she plays club cricket and follows distance running. “The best sport reporting starts by listening.”
