Tyson Fury and Anthony Joshua both return to the ring this weekend, yet it’s hard to escape one simple conclusion.
Neither man is expected to lose.
That’s not a criticism of either fighter. It’s simply the reality of how these events have been put together. Fury takes on veteran Mariusz Wach, while Joshua returns against Kristian Prenga. Both opponents are experienced professionals, but very few people genuinely believe they’re capable of pulling off one of the biggest upsets in heavyweight boxing.
Instead, these fights feel like they’re serving one purpose.
Get both men safely through the weekend so the conversation can move straight back to Tyson Fury versus Anthony Joshua.
If that’s the plan, then fair enough. Boxing has always had tune-up fights. But let’s stop pretending they’re anything else.
Everyone is already looking beyond this weekend
The biggest talking point isn’t Fury’s opponent.
It isn’t Joshua’s opponent either.
It’s whether they’ll finally meet each other.
That tells you everything you need to know.
Promoters, broadcasters and fans are already discussing a potential showdown before either man has thrown a punch this weekend. The current opponents almost feel like a box that has to be ticked before everyone can move on to the main event.
That’s a dangerous habit modern boxing has fallen into.
If the only thing that matters is what comes next, why should fans invest emotionally in what’s happening now?
Tyson Fury Anthony Joshua deserves honesty
There’s absolutely nothing wrong with a stay-busy fight.
Every fighter needs rounds. Long layoffs don’t help anyone, particularly heavyweights.
I’ve written before about how these contests have become increasingly common in today’s sport:
The problem isn’t that they exist.
The problem is how they’re sold.
Every event is marketed as if it’s a genuine fifty-fifty contest. Every opponent is described as dangerous. Every press conference tries to convince us that something shocking could happen.
But boxing fans know the difference between a genuine test and an opponent selected because they’re unlikely to ruin future plans.
There’s nothing wrong with saying:
“This is a tune-up before a bigger fight.”
In fact, I’d argue fans would appreciate that honesty far more than manufactured drama.
The opponents tell the real story
This isn’t about disrespecting Mariusz Wach or Kristian Prenga.
Every professional boxer deserves respect for stepping into the ring.
But let’s be realistic.
Neither opponent has been chosen because they’re considered the next dominant force in the heavyweight division.
They’ve been selected because they’re expected to provide rounds, allow Fury and Joshua to sharpen up and, most importantly, leave the ring healthy.
That’s sensible business.
It just isn’t particularly compelling sport.
We’ve been here too many times before
Perhaps the biggest reason I’m struggling to get excited about all the talk of Fury versus Joshua is simple.
We’ve heard it all before.
How many times have boxing fans been told a massive fight is almost done?
How many press conferences have spoken about future plans before current opponents have even been beaten?
We’ve seen negotiations collapse.
We’ve seen injuries derail fights.
We’ve seen cuts suffered in sparring.
We’ve seen television deals and promotional politics get in the way.
So forgive me if I’m not getting carried away by people talking about November.
For me, the fight doesn’t exist until both men are actually standing in opposite corners on fight night.
Everything else is just noise.
I don’t believe it happens in November
A lot of people seem convinced that November is the target.
Personally, I’m not buying it.
Could it happen?
Of course.
Will it happen?
I’m far less convinced.
Heavyweight boxing has taught us to be sceptical.
One awkward injury this weekend.
One poor performance.
One disagreement over money.
One issue with broadcasters.
Suddenly November becomes February.
Then February becomes the summer.
If I had to guess, I actually think we’ll be waiting until next summer before Tyson Fury and Anthony Joshua finally share a ring.
I’d love to be proved wrong.
History suggests I probably won’t be.
Stop selling the destination before we’ve started the journey
One thing that really frustrates me is how boxing constantly sells tomorrow before delivering today.
We’re already talking about Fury versus Joshua.
That’s understandable because it’s the fight everyone wants.
But shouldn’t this weekend actually matter?
If promoters genuinely believed these were competitive contests, they wouldn’t spend so much time talking about what comes next.
The marketing itself gives the game away.
The current fights are simply obstacles standing between us and the real prize.
That’s why they feel less like meaningful contests and more like public sparring sessions.
If it’s Britain’s biggest fight, stage it in Britain
There’s another part of this conversation that really winds me up.
I’ve said it before, and I’ll keep saying it.
If Tyson Fury versus Anthony Joshua really is the biggest fight British boxing can produce, then it belongs in Britain.
Yes, Saudi Arabia can offer enormous site fees.
Yes, everyone involved could earn more money.
But not everything in boxing should come down to whoever writes the biggest cheque.
This isn’t just another heavyweight fight.
This is two British heavyweight champions finally meeting after years of speculation.
It should be at Wembley Stadium.
Imagine ninety thousand people singing before the opening bell.
Imagine the atmosphere during the ring walks.
Imagine the noise if one of them landed a huge right hand in the closing rounds.
You simply cannot recreate that in Saudi Arabia.
British boxing shouldn’t have to watch its biggest occasion exported overseas because somebody else can pay more.
If we’re calling it the biggest fight in British boxing history, then British fans deserve the chance to experience it in Britain.
It’s no longer the fight it once was
Let’s be honest about something else.
Five years ago, this fight would’ve been even bigger.
Back then, both men still carried an aura that has faded slightly over time.
Joshua was closer to his peak.
Fury was unbeaten and sitting comfortably at the top of the heavyweight division.
The timing would’ve been perfect.
Instead, boxing politics, promotional disagreements and endless negotiations got in the way.
Does that mean the fight has lost its appeal?
Absolutely not.
It’s still enormous.
It’ll still sell out anywhere.
Millions will still watch.
But it’s impossible not to wonder what might have been had boxing managed to make it happen when the demand was at its absolute peak.
Boxing needs more meaningful fights
This isn’t really about Tyson Fury or Anthony Joshua.
They’re doing what almost every elite boxer would do.
It’s about the direction boxing has drifted in.
Too often, the biggest stars spend more time protecting future events than creating memorable ones.
The greatest fighters in history became legends because they embraced risk.
Think about fighters like Oleksandr Usyk. He hasn’t built his legacy by looking for the safest option. He’s repeatedly taken on the toughest available challenge, and that’s exactly why his achievements carry so much weight.
The uncertainty is what makes boxing magical.
When fans genuinely don’t know who’s going to win, every punch matters.
When the outcome feels inevitable before the opening bell, that magic starts to disappear.
Final bell
I’ll still watch Tyson Fury.
I’ll still watch Anthony Joshua.
Like most boxing fans, I want to see both men win because I still want to see them fight each other.
But I’m not going to pretend these are must-watch heavyweight classics.
They’re tune-up fights.
They’re preparation.
They’re designed to get us to the next chapter safely.
And that’s fine.
Just don’t ask fans to believe they’re anything more than that.
As for Fury versus Joshua?
I’ll get excited when the opening bell rings.
Not when another proposed date is announced.
Because boxing has taught us one thing over the years: until both fighters are standing in opposite corners, nothing is guaranteed.
And if that fight finally does happen, there should only be one venue.
Wembley Stadium.
Anything else would be doing a disservice to one of the biggest occasions British boxing has ever had.
Over to you
Do you agree that Tyson Fury and Anthony Joshua are simply using this weekend as public sparring before a much bigger fight? Should their eventual showdown take place at Wembley, or has Saudi Arabia become the unavoidable home of boxing’s biggest events?
Share your thoughts in the comments below. Then head over to CMBoxing for more opinion-led boxing features, honest debate and analysis that looks beyond the headlines.