Negotiations for a Tyson Fury-Anthony Joshua Heavyweight Contest Reach Final Stages

Apr 24, 2026, 12:51

Introduction

Promoter Eddie Hearn has reported that contractual discussions for a heavyweight fight between British boxers Tyson Fury and Anthony Joshua are nearing completion. The proposed arrangement includes a preliminary bout for Joshua in July followed by a direct confrontation with Fury later in the year.

Main Body

On April 11, Joshua attended Fury''s return match at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, where Fury issued a public challenge. Joshua did not immediately accept. Hearn later clarified that Joshua was prioritizing substantive negotiations over public spectacle. According to Hearn, an agreement has not been signed, but the remaining points of a contract that would commit Joshua to a July fight and then a contest with Fury are being finalized. The July event would be promoted by Matchroom, while the Fury bout, tentatively scheduled for November, would likely be promoted by Sela, a Saudi company. Saudi adviser Turki Alalshikh is expected to provide funding and determine the venue. Hearn expressed a preference for the Fury fight to occur in the United Kingdom, though the final decision rests with Alalshikh. Hearn also noted that unified heavyweight champion Oleksandr Usyk participated in discussions and recommended that Joshua have a comeback fight before facing Fury. Joshua has been training with Usyk in Ukraine following a December car accident in Nigeria that resulted in the deaths of two individuals from his team. Fury, meanwhile, recently secured a points victory over Arslanbek Makhmudov in his first bout since losing to Usyk in December 2024, a defeat that prompted his fifth retirement announcement. Fury is not anticipated to compete again before the proposed Joshua fight.

Conclusion

While a formal contract remains unsigned, the negotiations have advanced to a stage where a timeline and structure for a Fury-Joshua bout have been outlined. The involvement of Saudi funding and the advice from Usyk have shaped the current plan. The outcome depends on finalizing the remaining contractual details.

Vocabulary Learning

confrontation
A direct and often hostile encounter or contest between individuals or groups.對抗；對峙；衝突
Example:The proposed arrangement includes a preliminary bout for Joshua in July followed by a direct confrontation with Fury later in the year.
preliminary
Denoting an action or event preceding the main one; introductory.初步的；預備的；開端的
Example:The proposed arrangement includes a preliminary bout for Joshua in July.
substantive
Having real importance, value, or meaning; not superficial.實質的；重要的；非表面的
Example:Joshua was prioritizing substantive negotiations over public spectacle.
tentatively
Subject to change; provisionally.暫時地；試探性地；未確定地
Example:The Fury bout, tentatively scheduled for November, would likely be promoted by Sela.
unified
Made into a single unit or entity; combined. In boxing, referring to a champion holding multiple title belts.統一的；聯合的；在拳擊中指持有數條金腰帶的冠軍
Example:Hearn also noted that unified heavyweight champion Oleksandr Usyk participated in discussions.

Sentence Learning

According to Hearn, an agreement has not been signed, but the remaining points of a contract that would commit Joshua to a July fight and then a contest with Fury are being finalized.
The sentence begins with a prepositional phrase 'According to Hearn', followed by a compound main clause connected by 'but'. The second part contains a noun phrase 'the remaining points of a contract' modified by a restrictive relative clause 'that would commit Joshua to a July fight and then a contest with Fury'. The verb phrase 'are being finalized' is in the present continuous passive.句子以介詞短語「據赫恩所說」開頭，後接由「但」連接的並列主句。第二部分包含名詞短語「合同的剩餘條款」，由限制性關係從句「該合同將使約書亞承諾參加七月比賽，然後與富裡對決」修飾。動詞短語「正在最終確定」為現在進行時被動語態。
The July event would be promoted by Matchroom, while the Fury bout, tentatively scheduled for November, would likely be promoted by Sela, a Saudi company.
The sentence uses a 'while' clause to contrast two events. The first clause is passive voice. The second clause contains a parenthetical reduced relative clause 'tentatively scheduled for November' (omitting 'which is') and an appositive noun phrase 'a Saudi company' providing additional information about Sela.句子使用「而」從句對比兩個事件。第一個從句為被動語態。第二個從句包含插入的簡化關係從句「暫定於十一月舉行」（省略「which is」）以及同位語名詞短語「一家沙特公司」，提供關於塞拉的額外信息。
Hearn also noted that unified heavyweight champion Oleksandr Usyk participated in discussions and recommended that Joshua have a comeback fight before facing Fury.
The sentence contains a main clause with a reporting verb 'noted' followed by a noun clause. Within the noun clause, there is a coordinated verb phrase 'participated... and recommended'. The verb 'recommended' governs a subjunctive clause 'that Joshua have a comeback fight', using the base form 'have' to express a suggestion. The phrase 'before facing Fury' is a prepositional phrase with a gerund.句子包含帶有報告動詞「指出」的主句，後接名詞從句。名詞從句內有並列動詞短語「參與……並建議」。動詞「建議」引導一個虛擬語氣從句「約書亞進行一場復出比賽」，使用動詞原形「進行」以表達建議。短語「在面對富裡之前」為帶有動名詞的介詞短語。
Fury, meanwhile, recently secured a points victory over Arslanbek Makhmudov in his first bout since losing to Usyk in December 2024, a defeat that prompted his fifth retirement announcement.
The main clause is 'Fury secured a points victory'. The adverbial 'meanwhile' is inserted. The prepositional phrase 'in his first bout since losing...' includes a gerund 'losing' after 'since'. The sentence ends with an appositive noun phrase 'a defeat' modified by a restrictive relative clause 'that prompted his fifth retirement announcement', which provides additional context.主句為「富裡取得點數勝利」。插入副詞「與此同時」。介詞短語「在他自2024年12月輸給烏西克後的首場比賽中」包含「since」後的動名詞「輸掉」。句子結尾為同位語名詞短語「一場失敗」，由限制性關係從句「這促使他第五次宣布退役」修飾，提供額外背景。
While a formal contract remains unsigned, the negotiations have advanced to a stage where a timeline and structure for a Fury-Joshua bout have been outlined.
The sentence begins with a concessive subordinate clause 'While a formal contract remains unsigned'. The main clause is 'the negotiations have advanced to a stage'. This is followed by a relative clause introduced by 'where', which modifies 'stage' and contains a passive verb phrase 'have been outlined' with a compound subject 'a timeline and structure'.句子以讓步從句「雖然正式合同尚未簽署」開頭。主句為「談判已進展到一個階段」。後接由「where」引導的關係從句修飾「階段」，其中包含被動動詞短語「已被概述」和複合主語「時間表和結構」。