FIVE BOXERS TYSON FURY COULD FACE BEFORE ANTHONY JOSAHUA FIGHT AS FRANK WARREN CONFIRMS PLANS

Fans could see Tyson Fury back in the ring before a blockbuster fight against Anthony Joshua later this year... but against who?

Tyson Fury is set to fight Anthony Joshua(Image: (Mark Robinson/Getty Images))

1. The heavyweights in the frame: Staying active: Tyson Fury has reportedly instructed Frank Warren to secure an interim date to avoid the ring rust that plagued his early rounds against Arslanbek Makhmudov at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium. It has been said that the Gypsy King feels that a second training camp this year could be essential for his mental discipline and physical conditioning before facing a revitalised Joshua.

2. Makhmudov rematch: A second bout with Makhmudov may remain a viable fallback option given the Russian's durability and the commercial success of their first encounter on Netflix. While Fury won convincingly on the scorecards, Makkmudov's early aggression provided the exact type of hair-raising moments that keep the public engaged.

3. Big Bang threat: Zhilei Zhang stands out as a highly feasible candidate because his southpaw stance and massive power would offer Fury the ultimate tactical dress rehearsal. Despite being in the twilight of his career, 'Big Bang' remains a top-tier gatekeeper whose involvement would draw massive international viewership and test Fury's defensive reflexes.

4. The Bakole challenge: Choosing Martin Bakole would silence critics who claim Fury is looking for an easy touch, as the Congolese giant possesses the engine and physical size to make every round a gruelling chore. The 32-year-old hasn't fought since his draw against Efe Ajagba in May 2025.

5. Joshua's risky tune-up: Anthony Joshua is set to face the Albanian Kristian Prenga in Riyadh on July 25, a fight that Frank Warren warned could "kill" the Fury bout if an upset occurs. Because Prenga boasts a formidable knockout ratio, the entire 2026 boxing calendar rests on Joshua successfully navigating this dangerous hurdle without sustaining an injury.

6. WBC interim situation: Agit Kabayel currently holds a position of power as the WBC interim champion, making a fight with Fury logically consistent for the governing body's rankings. A victory over Kabayel would allow Fury to walk into the Joshua fight as the undisputed focus of the WBC, removing any political obstacles regarding mandatory challengers.

7. British domestic clash: Fabio Wardley remains a dark horse for the interim slot due to his recent surge in popularity and his status as a fellow Queensberry-promoted fighter. A domestic showdown with Wardley - who faces Daniel Dubois next week - would serve as a perfect "Battle of Britain" appetiser, though some believe the risk of a domestic upset is too high for such a late stage in negotiations.

8. Timing and logistics: The proposed interim fight would likely need to take place in late summer or early autumn to allow for a three-month recovery and preparation window before the Joshua clash. This tight turnaround requires an opponent who is already in active training and ready to sign a contract without prolonged promotional disputes.

9. Saudi Arabian backing: Most of these potential matchups are contingent on the support of Riyadh Season, which has become the primary financial engine for the heavyweight division's biggest events. Regardless of whether the fight lands in London or Saudi Arabia, the organisers are keen to ensure both Fury and Joshua enter their final 2026 clash at their absolute best.

10. READ THE FULL STORY ON ANTHONY JOSHUA'S DIG AT TYSON FURY: Tyson Fury immediately takes dig from Anthony Joshua as two fights announced

- Fasika Zelealem

BOB ARUM NAMES THE ONLY HEAVYWEIGHT WHO COMES CLOSE TO EQUALLING GEORGE FOREMAN'S POWER

Legendary promoter Bob Arum has worked with a number of legendary heavyweights throughout his career, including the late, great George Foreman.

The 93-year-old’s first championship promotion was with Muhammad Ali back in 1966, when he defended his heavyweight title against George Chuvalo in Toronto, Canada.

Arum went on to establish Top Rank in 1973, where he has played an instrumental role in promoting over 500 world title bouts across five decades. As well as working alongside Ali, the 93-year-old has promoted fighters such as Foreman, Floyd Mayweather Jr and Manny Pacquiao to name just a few.

Arum promoted Foreman’s incredible 1994 victory over Michael Moorer, which saw ‘Big’ George become the oldest heavyweight champion in history when he captured the WBA and IBF titles with a tenth round stoppage over the previously unbeaten heavyweight star.

In an interview with Sean Zittel, Arum was asked how he believes the heavyweight icon would have fared against the stars of today, before saying former that former WBC heavyweight champion Deontay Wilder is the only fighter who comes close to carrying the level of punching power that ‘Big’ George did.

“I think quite well, because I don’t know any heavyweight around who had the ring savvy that he had and the punching power that he possessed. Of heavyweight fighters with punching power, the one that came close was Wilder, but Wilder didn’t have the defensive skills that George had and couldn’t take a punch the way George did.”

Foreman picked up 76 victories throughout his tenure, with 68 of those coming via stoppage. Perhaps one of the most famous wins of his career came in January 1973 when he dropped Joe Frazier six times before knocking him out in the second round of their bout to become the world heavyweight champion for the first time.

Wilder has 43 knockouts from his 43 wins and believes himself to be the biggest puncher the sport has ever seen. After back-to-back losses in Saudi Arabia against Joseph Parker and Zhilei Zhang, the 39-year-old is making a low-key comeback this June before one last crack at the top level.

 - Toby Morgan

ANTHONY JOSHUA HAS SEVEN-MAN SHORTLIST FOR NEXT FIGHT AFTER TUSON FURY RETIREMENT

Anthony Joshua has no fight planned (Image: Getty Images)

Anthony Joshua has been left in limbo following Tyson Fury's shock retirement - but has a number of possible options for his next fight, according to Eddie Hearn

Eddie Hearn has insisted Anthony Joshua is not short of options for his next bout, even if Tyson Fury remains retired.

In a stunning turn of events on Monday, Fury announced he was stepping away from boxing. The 'Gypsy King' chose to retire following his defeat in the rematch against Oleksandr Usyk last month in Riyadh. "Hi everybody, I'm going to make this short and sweet," Fury declared. "I'd like to announce my retirement from boxing, it has been a blast, I've loved every single minute of it and I'm going to end with this; Dick Turpin wore a mask."

This move by Fury scuppers any hopes for a much-anticipated all-British clash with Joshua. Nonetheless, speaking to The Sun, Joshua's promoter assured fans that 'AJ' has a wealth of potential contenders for his forthcoming fight. Among the names mentioned are Martin Bakole, Dillian Whyte, Deontay Wilder, Zhilei Zhang, Agit Kabayel, Daniel Dubois, and Joseph Parker. Joshua suffered a knockout at the hands of Dubois in their September showdown.Since then, 'Triple D' has expressed interest in a rematch with 'AJ', which seemed set for February. However, Hearn has indicated that Joshua isn't ready for the rematch just yet due to minor injuries sustained in their initial encounter.

Dubois is now set to clash with Parker in Riyadh on February 22 in a much-anticipated duel. This heavyweight encounter has the potential to pave the way for one of them to face Joshua next. Post their 2018 match-up, Parker would relish the chance to even the score with 'AJ' should he prevail against 'Triple D'. Meanwhile, Bakole issued a blistering challenge to Joshua and is now seen as a possible opponent for the Watford-born pugilist.

The two have sparred previously, and at 31, Bakole cements his top-contender status after defeating Jared Anderson. He taunted Joshua, saying: "Anthony Joshua, I called you out. I wanted to knock you out," and "Now you're talking s**** to say Ajagba is going to beat me. "Shame on you. How many times did I call you out? How many times did I ask you to fight in Africa? You should be ashamed of yourself. I want to fight you. I want to knock you out. Look at Daniel Dubois, I broke his nose twice. He knocked you out cold. If you fight me, I'll knock you out in the first round.

"You're talking about Ajagba. Ajagba is a baby. Wait till you see how I knock him out. I invite you to be there. You're talking s***. I want to fight you. Stop talking nonsense. Now you're saying you're Nigerian. You're not British anymore? I'll knock you out. I'm an African giant. I'm an African warrior. After knocking out Ajagba, I will knock you out as well."

A rematch with Whyte could be on the cards, as boxing enthusiasts believe it would be the ideal warm-up fight before taking on the division's top stars. A match with Wilder would be fascinating given their long-standing feud. 'The Bronze Bomber' is aiming for a comeback and one significant victory could enhance his chances of another high-profile bout. Both Zhang and Kabayel are set to face off next month for the WBC interim title - with the belt ensuring them a shot at Usyk's title or the opportunity to be promoted should the Ukrainian relinquish the gold strap.

- JAMES EVANS

JOSEPH PARKER TO FARCICALLY LOSE HEAVYWEIGHT TITLE IN ONE SECOND

WBO President Gustavo Olivieri confirmed that Joseph Parker would be the interim heavyweight champion for one second of his contest with Daniel Dubois before losing the title.

Parker’s status will be declared void once the first bell rings in the Dubois clash due to the New Zealander challenging for another organization’s belt. Dubois is currently the IBF champion, giving the WBO no choice but to strip Parker as soon as he trades blows under the auspices of another sanctioning body.

Outlining the ruling, Olivieri stated, “The WBO Interim Heavyweight Champion, Joseph Parker, embodies the true spirit of the sport. A consummate professional, gentleman, and champion inside and outside the ring, Parker has represented the WBO with great honor and integrity. In accordance with WBO policy regarding the unification of interim titles, we have mutually agreed that Joseph Parker will enter the ring as champion, and he will be announced as such. However, upon the sound of the opening bell, the title will be declared vacant.

“We extend our sincere appreciation to Joseph Parker for his dedication to the sport and look forward to his continued success in his career.

“All the best against Dubois. The doors of the WBO will always be open,” he added.

Parker won the strap against Zhilei Zhang in March, months after defeating Deontay Wilder for WBC and WBO Ranking titles. The majority decision elevated Parker into the top five heavyweights in the world, alongside Oleksandr Usyk, Tyson Fury, Andy Ruiz Jr, and Daniel Dubois.

The 33-year-old is attempting to become world champion for the second time in his career. He reigned from 2016 to 2018 after beating Ruiz in a hotly debated decision on home soil in Auckland.

Many are tipping Parker to dethrone Dubois on February 22 in Saudi Arabia. The fight will be part of a blockbuster bill that includes Artur Beterbiev vs. Dmitry Bivol 2.

- Phil Jay

TYSON FURY MAKES U-TURN AND IS NOW WILLING TO FIGHT THE ONLY MAN HE SAID HE 'NEVER' WOULD

Tyson Fury is back in the ring this December when he tries to avenge his only career defeat.

Back in May ‘The Gypsy King’ was dethroned as the number one heavyweight on the planet when he was beaten by the former cruiserweight undisputed champion, Oleksandr Usyk.

The fight lived up to the hype with both men having periods of success but ultimately it was the Ukrainian who got his hand raised via a split decision, having scored a huge 10-8 round in the ninth where Fury was out on his feet.

In the build up to the first fight Fury spoke about his desire to carry on boxing until he can’t anymore, and named ten potential opponents he could still face. One of those was Joseph Parker, the in-form former heavyweight champion who is a close gym buddy of Fury’s and the man he previously said he would never fight because they were ‘too close’.

“Definitely not. No. I’d rather give him the belt than fight him for it. We’re too close for that fight, and there’s plenty of heavyweights out there. I don’t want to get beat up, sorry.”

However, the former WBC champion seems to have had a change of heart, telling Pro Boxing Fans that he would now be willing to face his friend, if it provided him with ‘life changing’ money

“Joseph Parker, Well listen, if it’s going to make him life changing money and help his family and kids I’m sure he will.”

Fury and Parker have been close friends and training partners for some time now, with the Brit even bringing the New Zealander out to Morecambe for full camps. He was also instrumental in Parker’s link up with coach Andy Lee which has proven to be an excellent move.

Parker is currently coming off the best two wins of his career, having beaten Deontay Wilder and Zhilei Zhang and is positioning himself for a shot a title if the belts become more fractured after the Fury-Usyk rematch.

- Toby Morgan

ZHILEI ZHANG FINISHES DEONTAY WILDER IN 5TH--ROUND TKO

Zhilei Zhang scored a fifth-round TKO win over Deontay Wilder, who said before the fight that a loss could mean "the final goodbye." Photo by Richard Pelham/Getty Images

 Zhilei Zhang scored the biggest win of his career Saturday in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, and might have effectively ended former heavyweight champion Deontay Wilder's run in the process.

China's Zhang, 41, connected with a perfectly timed counter right hook that spun Wilder in a daze. With Wilder defenseless, Zhang (27-2-1, 21 KOs) sprinted in and smashed him with another right hand that planted the American hard on the canvas.

Wilder, 38, somehow was on his feet before the count of 10, but his legs were unsteady and the referee wisely waved off the fight at 1:51 of Round 5.

"I blocked a few punches, but hell yeah, he punches hard," Zhang, speaking through an interpreter, said of Wilder (43-4-1, 42 KOs), who is regarded as one of the most powerful punchers in heavyweight history.

"I give him a lot of respect. He's a heavy puncher. ... I successfully took his right hand away."

Wilder has lost four of his past five fights, including a decision defeat to Joseph Parker in December along with a pair of losses to Tyson Fury in their heavyweight championship trilogy. Wilder said before the fight that if he lost, "this could be the final goodbye, the farewell of Deontay Wilder."

Zhang, too, was reeling from a decision defeat to Parker, the former heavyweight titleholder. Zhang floored Parker twice in March but still lost on the cards.

Now, he is back on what he called the "road to the champion." That's currently Oleksandr Usyk, who defeated Fury last month in Riyadh for the undisputed championship.

Zhang closed as the -150 favorite against Wilder, according to ESPN BET. He is ESPN's No. 6 heavyweight, and Wilder entered the ring at No. 7. Zhang won a silver medal as a super heavyweight at the 2008 Olympic Games in Beijing while Wilder claimed bronze in the heavyweight division.

They appeared to be in different weight classes Saturday, too, as Zhang outweighed Wilder by 68.2 pounds -- at 282.8 compared with Wilder's 214.6. There is no weight limit in boxing's heavyweight division.

Zhang used that size advantage to bully Wilder and smother him on the ropes. A southpaw, Zhang was able to connect with right hooks that scored time and again as Wilder cocked his vaunted right hand back but rarely let it go.

In Round 5, Zhang finally began to unload his best weapon. Wilder had just scored with a chopping right hand when he threw yet another right that was countered by Zhang for the finish.

The victory made it a clean sweep for Frank Warren's Queensberry Promotions, which was squaring off with rival U.K. promoter Eddie Hearn's Matchroom Boxing in a unique 5 vs. 5 team concept created by Turki Alalshikh, the chairman of Saudi Arabia's General Entertainment Authority.

After Zhang's TKO win, Alalshikh presented Warren with a large check worth $3 million.

- Mike Coppinger, ESPN Boxing Insider

ARTUR BETERBIEV INJURED, TITLE BOUT VS. DMITRY BIVOL POSTPONED

 Artur Beterbiev suffered a ruptured meniscus and his undisputed light heavyweight championship fight vs. Dmitry Bivol on June 1 in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, has been postponed, it was announced Friday.

Turki Alalshikh, the chairman of Saudi Arabia's General Entertainment Authority, told ESPN a replacement opponent is being sought for Bivol on the June 1 card.

Beterbiev (20-0, 20 KOs) will undergo knee surgery and is expected to be sidelined until at least September, sources said. The hope is for Beterbiev-Bivol to be rescheduled later this year.

Alalshikh announced that the stacked undercard that features five boxers promoted by Matchroom vs. five Queensberry fighters will proceed June 1 as planned.

The series of fights is highlighted by a bout between former heavyweight champion Deontay Wilder vs. Zhilei Zhang. Both boxers are coming off losses to Joseph Parker. Wilder needs an impressive performance to move on to a planned Aug. 3 bout with Jared Anderson in Los Angeles.

Filip Hrgovic will meet Daniel Dubois for the vacant IBF heavyweight title, and Ray Ford will defend his WBA featherweight title against Nick Ball. The other two fights are Ammo Williams-Hamzah Sheeraz and Willy Hutchinson-Craig Richards.

But the most anticipated fight of all was the long-awaited summit meeting between Beterbiev and Bivol.

Bivol (22-0, 11 KOs) is ESPN's No. 5 pound-for-pound boxer while Beterbiev is No. 6. Bivol owns a victory over boxing's top star, Canelo Alvarez, and holds the WBA title at 175 pounds.

Beterbiev, the WBO, WBC and IBF champion at 175 pounds, is ESPN's No. 1 light heavyweight (Bivol is No. 2).

Beterbiev, 39, and Bivol, 33, both are from Russia, though Beterbiev now lives in Quebec. That's where he returned in January with a seventh-round TKO victory over former super middleweight champion Callum Smith, a win that kept him on a collision course with Bivol.

The victory came in Beterbiev's first action since January 2023, when he scored a seventh-round TKO over Anthony Yarde.

Beterbiev is boxing's only champion with a 100% KO rate.

Bivol, though, owns the most impressive win between the pair with his May 2022 decision victory over Alvarez. It was a dominant performance that displayed Bivol's elite jab, footwork and ring smarts. Beterbiev also possesses an excellent jab and is arguably boxing's most dangerous picker.

The matchup is among the most anticipated in the history of the light heavyweight division and presents a fascinating clash of styles: Bivol is a classical boxer, Beterbiev is a boxer-puncher.

Bivol's last fight came in December in Riyadh, where he scored a shutout decision over Lyndon Arthur.

- Mike Coppinger, ESPN

JOSEPH PARKER STAYS IN TITLE PICTURE WITH WIN OVER ZHILEI ZHANG

Joseph Parker, right, has rebounded from his 2022 knockout loss to Joe Joyce with victories over top-five heavyweights Deontay Wilder and Zhilei Zhang. Photo by Mark Robinson/Matchroom Boxing via Getty Images

 Joseph Parker was floored twice by Zhilei Zhang but otherwise outboxed his foe for large stretches of the heavyweight fight to earn a majority-decision victory on Friday evening in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.

One judge scored it 113-113 but was overruled by 114-112 and 115-111 tallies for Parker, who upset Deontay Wilder via decision in December. The victory over Zhang is Parker's second consecutive over a heavyweight rated in ESPN's top five and completes a shocking turnaround for the 32-year-old New Zealander.

Parker, a former heavyweight titleholder, was brutally knocked out by Joe Joyce in Round 11 of their September 2022 meeting and was practically written off as a heavyweight contender.

But following three wins over domestic-level opposition last year, Parker (35-3, 23 KOs) punctuated the campaign with a dominant victory over Wilder in a major upset. And now, Parker is positioned for another crack at a heavyweight title on the heels of another upset win.

"This is a great win," said Parker, who entered the ring rated No. 4 by ESPN at heavyweight. "Zhang is a tough man, knocked me down twice. ... I'm very happy. .... We have a rematch [clause], so we're gonna do it again."

Zhang (26-2-1, 21 KOs) dropped Parker in Round 3 after a straight left hand connected flush. Parker, 32, beat the count with a bloody and busted up nose and then continued to outbox the 40-year-old China native.

Parker consistently beat Zhang to the punch with his superior speed and mobility. Zhang weighed 291½ pounds while Parker was 247½. And while there was far more pop behind Zhang's shots, there wasn't nearly enough activity.

That was until Zhang caught Parker again, this time with a sharp right hook that produced the knockdown in Round 8. But Parker again rose to the canvas with a clear head and returned to his jab and movement.

Parker was able to split Zhang's guard with quick one-twos and used his feet to circle around the southpaw. And as Zhang sat on the stool before Round 12, his corner instructed him to score another knockdown. Instead, Zhang landed zero punches in the final round.

Zhang, though, will be afforded another crack at Parker due to the rematch clause. ESPN's No. 5 heavyweight, Zhang's previous loss was a controversial decision defeat to contender Filip Hrgovic in 2022, another bout where he scored a knockdown in defeat.

Following the setback, Zhang scored back-to-back inside-the-distance wins over Joyce, including a spectacular third-round KO in the September rematch. The pair of wins solidified Zhang as ESPN's No. 5 heavyweight, and he was favored to defeat Parker, too.

Instead, it's Parker who is now regarded as the best heavyweight after Tyson Fury, Oleksandr Usyk and Anthony Joshua.

Parker won a heavyweight title in 2016 when he scored a majority-decision win over Andy Ruiz. Parker made two successful defenses before he dropped the belt to Joshua via decision in 2018.

Parker lost his next fight, too, a decision setback to Dillian Whyte that seemed to end any hope of a future title shot. But now, Parker is well-positioned while the trio of top heavyweights settle bragging rights as he looks toward another bout with Zhang.

Ball floors Vargas twice but settles for draw

Rey Vargas had to get off the canvas twice to hold on to the WBC featherweight world title after his fight with Nick Ball was scored a split draw.

Ball overcame an 8½-inch height disadvantage to drop Vargas in Rounds 8 and 11, but it was not enough to win his first world title.

Vargas, who was walked to the ring by boxing legend Manny Pacquiao, held on to the belt in his first defense after scores of 114-112 for Vargas, 116-110 for Ball and 113-113.

ZHILEI ZHANG CALLS OUT TYSON FURY AFTER JOE JOYCE KO