Tyson Fury will make one more stop on his route to a long-awaited showdown with Anthony Joshua, with the former heavyweight champion set to return to the ring in Thailand later this month.
Fury and Joshua finally signed contracts earlier this year after almost a decade of speculation, although both men will take one final “warm-up” fight before meeting in one of British boxing’s biggest ever events.
The ‘Gypsy King’ returned from retirement in April with a comfortable points victory over Arslanbek Makhmudov but has insisted he wants to remain active ahead of the Joshua clash, describing this next outing as a chance to sharpen up before “the big one.”
Now, Fury’s next opponent has been revealed. The 37-year-old will face experienced Polish heavyweight Mariusz Wach in Thailand on July 24 at the Max Muay Thai Stadium in Pattaya.
Wach is best known for taking Wladimir Klitschko the full 12-round distance during an unsuccessful world title challenge in 2012. Standing 6ft 7in, the veteran has often been brought in as a test for up and coming heavyweights. He has also faced Makhmudov, losing inside six rounds.
In 2024, Wach was stopped inside two rounds by Moses Itauma – a fight which will be no doubt used as a measuring stick against Fury’s upcoming performance.
The next night, July 25, in Saudi Arabia, Joshua faces Kristian Prenga. Providing both the Brits come through their respective contests unscathed, attention will immediately turn to their long-awaited meeting, set for mid-November with a location as yet undecided.