The Fury Joshua warm-up fight debate has taken another turn — and this time, it’s clearly coming from Team Anthony Joshua.
Eddie Hearn has publicly said he wants Joshua to have a fight before facing Tyson Fury.
On the surface, that sounds sensible.
But when you actually look at Joshua’s last outing… it raises more questions than it answers.
Let’s Be Honest About the Jake Paul Fight
Joshua has already had what you’d call a “warm-up fight” — against Jake Paul.
And if we’re being real about it…
That wasn’t a proper fight.
Paul spent large parts of it moving, surviving, and avoiding engagement. It went six rounds, but it never felt competitive, never felt dangerous, and never truly tested Joshua.
So when we talk about a Fury Joshua warm-up fight, we’re not talking about sharpening tools.
We’re talking about Joshua still not having had a meaningful fight to prepare him for Fury.
That’s the Real Concern
This is where the conversation shifts.
If the Jake Paul fight didn’t provide the test — and let’s be honest, it didn’t — then what exactly is this next “warm-up” supposed to achieve?
Because now it starts to look like Joshua is searching for something:
- Rhythm?
- Confidence?
- Proof he’s still at elite level?
And that’s where the Fury Joshua warm-up fight becomes a red flag.
At this stage of his career, Joshua shouldn’t be figuring things out. He should already know.
You Don’t Need Two Warm-Up Fights at This Level
This is the part that doesn’t sit right.
One tune-up? You can justify it.
But effectively needing another after the Jake Paul fight?
That suggests the first one didn’t do its job.
And if that’s the case, it tells you Joshua isn’t as close to Fury-ready as people want to believe.
Because elite fighters don’t need multiple steps to get there — they make the jump.
The Risk Still Doesn’t Change
No matter how you frame it, the Fury Joshua warm-up fight still carries the same danger.
Heavyweight boxing only needs one moment:
- One clean shot
- One injury
- One bad performance
And the biggest fight in British boxing is gone again.
That’s the gamble here. Because if Joshua slips up — or even looks poor — the entire Fury fight loses its edge overnight.
And the Clock Is Already Ticking
Let’s not ignore the bigger picture.
This fight has already missed its perfect window.
Five or ten years ago, this was the fight in boxing. Now, it’s still massive — but it’s not the same.
That’s why dragging it out with a Fury Joshua warm-up fight feels unnecessary. You’re delaying something that’s already overdue.
And the longer it takes, the more it risks becoming another Floyd Mayweather Jr. vs Manny Pacquiao — huge anticipation, but a fight that arrives just that bit too late to truly deliver.
Final Thoughts — What Are We Actually Waiting For?
This is what it comes down to.
Joshua has already had a so-called “warm-up” — and it didn’t answer anything.
So what is another Fury Joshua warm-up fight really going to prove?
If he’s ready, make the fight.
If he’s not, then maybe that tells you everything you need to know about where this matchup actually stands.
What Do You Think?
Does Joshua need another Fury Joshua warm-up fight — or is this just delaying the inevitable?
Drop your thoughts in the comments, share this with other boxing fans, and head over to CMBoxing for more honest, no-nonsense boxing takes.