Tyson Fury Set to Take on Mariusz Wach on July 24th as Warm-Up for Joshua

The long-awaited heavyweight showdown between Tyson Fury and Anthony Joshua appears closer than ever, with both former world champions now officially scheduled for separate warm-up fights before their anticipated blockbuster clash later this year.

Saudi boxing chief Turki Alalshikh recently confirmed that Fury and Joshua are expected to meet, with the date and venue still to be announced. Before that all-British superfight can happen, however, both men must first take care of business against experienced opponents.

Anthony Joshua has already been confirmed to face unbeaten Albanian heavyweight Kristian Prenga on July 25 in Jeddah. Now, Fury's own return has also been finalized, with Queensberry Promotions announcing that "The Gypsy King" will face veteran Polish contender Mariusz Wach on July 24 in Pattaya, Thailand.

For Fury, the fight represents another step toward rebuilding momentum after one of the most turbulent stretches of his career.

The former heavyweight champion returned to the ring in April following a 15-month layoff and earned a comfortable points victory over Arslanbek Makhmudov. That comeback came after consecutive defeats to Oleksandr Usyk, losses that prompted Fury to briefly announce his retirement before reversing course and returning to competition.

Speaking in a Queensberry Promotions press release, Fury explained why 2026 represents such an important chapter in his career.

"2026 is a landmark year for me in boxing, and I'm excited to be able to bring this event to Pattaya, a part of the world that is special to me."

The 36-year-old also emphasized the significance of staging the event in Thailand, where he has spent considerable time in recent years.

"We're coming together to put on a great show for the fans, while using the opportunity to give back to the local community, who have been so good to me every time I have visited."

Despite Wach entering the contest with vast experience and nearly 60 professional bouts, Fury insists he is approaching the assignment with complete focus.

"At the same time, I'm fully focused on preparing for a tough opponent and making sure I'm the best version of Tyson Fury going into fight night. It's the start of a huge second half of the year for me."

Joshua's path back has been equally eventful.

The former two-time heavyweight champion has not fought since stopping Jake Paul at the end of 2025. Shortly after that victory, Joshua survived a devastating car accident while traveling in Nigeria, a tragedy that claimed the lives of two close friends, Sina Ghami and Latif "Latz" Ayodele. Although Joshua sustained injuries, he has recovered sufficiently to resume his career, with Prenga serving as the first test since the accident.

Neither Prenga, who owns a perfect knockout ratio, nor the towering 45-year-old Wach is viewed as a favorite against their more accomplished opponents. Instead, both contests are widely seen as tune-up fights designed to sharpen Joshua and Fury before the matchup boxing fans have demanded for years.

Assuming both men emerge victorious, the stage will finally be set for one of British boxing's biggest events. A Fury-Joshua showdown has repeatedly slipped away due to promotional disputes, title obligations and changing circumstances, but for the first time in years, it appears the stars are aligning.

If both former champions handle business in July, the heavyweight division could finally get the blockbuster all-British clash that has long been considered one of the sport's biggest remaining dream fights.