Last updated by Jemima Todd on 17th September 2026

Tyson Fury is once again an active heavyweight — and attention has quickly turned towards what could come next for the former world champion.

Fury returned to the ring in 2026 after reversing his retirement, with his comeback campaign leading to a victory over Mariusz Wach in Thailand in July. Now, the question is whether he will move directly into another major heavyweight contest before the end of the year.

Anthony Joshua is at the centre of those discussions. The long-awaited all-British fight is currently being negotiated, with Cardiff's Principality Stadium emerging as a potential venue alongside other options. Fury's manager Spencer Brown said in September that he was "100 per cent" confident the contest would happen, although a final date and venue have not been officially announced.

Joshua, however, is not the only name connected with Fury's future. Fury has also publicly discussed a third meeting with Oleksandr Usyk, while the constantly changing heavyweight division could provide further possibilities heading into 2027.

Here, we look at where Fury stands, the latest on his potential fight with Joshua and what the next chapter of his career could hold.

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Where is Tyson Fury now?

Fury's boxing future looked uncertain at the beginning of 2025. Following his second points defeat against Oleksandr Usyk in December 2024, Fury announced his retirement in January 2025. It was another addition to the 38-year-old's history of announcing his departure from the sport — and ultimately proved temporary.

Fury fully returned to competitive action in 2026. His comeback began against Arslanbek Makhmudov in April before Fury faced veteran Polish heavyweight Mariusz Wach in Pattaya, Thailand on Friday 24th July.

Fury stopped Wach after seven rounds, giving him another victory and another opportunity to build towards a more significant contest. The fight was widely viewed as preparation for the proposed meeting with Joshua.

Joshua returned one day later against Kristian Prenga in Jeddah. Despite being knocked down twice in the opening round, Joshua recovered to stop Prenga in round two. Those results left both British heavyweights available for the fight boxing supporters have discussed for years.

But despite considerable progress, Fury's next opponent is not yet officially confirmed.

Who will Tyson Fury fight next?

Anthony Joshua is currently the leading name in discussions surrounding Fury's next fight. Promoters have spent much of 2026 working towards the contest, and both fighters have completed the comeback bouts that were expected to precede their meeting. However, negotiations have not been straightforward.

One of the main issues has concerned where the contest would take place. Madison Square Garden in New York emerged as an option, while Joshua's representatives have maintained their preference for staging the fight in Britain. Talks subsequently reopened around Wembley Stadium.

More recently, Cardiff has become another serious possibility. On Friday 11th September, Fury's manager Spencer Brown said negotiations were continuing and identified Cardiff and Wembley among the possible venues. He also suggested that the fight could potentially take place in December. That makes Joshua the most prominent potential opponent for Fury at present — but until the final contracts, date and venue are announced, it would be premature to describe him as Fury's confirmed next opponent. Fury has already indicated that he is prepared to consider alternatives if negotiations do not reach a conclusion.

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Could Tyson Fury fight Anthony Joshua in Cardiff?

Cardiff has emerged as one of the biggest developments in the Fury-Joshua negotiations - recent reports suggest the Principality Stadium is increasingly likely to stage the fight, potentially in late November, although arrangements have not been finalised. The Welsh venue would make considerable sense for a major winter boxing event; the Principality Stadium has a retractable roof and extensive experience of staging major sporting occasions. It can also accommodate more than 70,000 spectators depending on the event configuration.

It would not be Joshua's first major night there, either. He successfully defended his heavyweight titles against Carlos Takam at the stadium in October 2017 before returning in March 2018 to defeat Joseph Parker in a unification contest.

Cardiff also has its own place in British boxing history. Joe Calzaghe defeated Mikkel Kessler at the stadium in 2007, while Lennox Lewis fought Frank Bruno at Cardiff Arms Park in 1993.

The possibility of Fury and Joshua joining that list has gathered momentum during September. The Times reported on Friday 11th September that the Principality Stadium had become increasingly likely to stage the contest. One consideration is the possibility of a late-night start to accommodate an international television audience, which could require changes to the venue's usual arrangements. Fury's manager has also publicly identified Cardiff as an option while stressing that negotiations remain ongoing.

For now, therefore, Cardiff should be considered a serious possibility rather than the confirmed home of Fury versus Joshua.

Why is Fury v Joshua still such a major fight?

A meeting between Fury and Joshua has been discussed for much of the past decade. At different stages, both men have stood at the summit of the heavyweight division.

Joshua became a two-time unified heavyweight world champion and produced some of his defining nights in front of huge British crowds. Fury famously defeated Wladimir Klitschko in 2015 before later returning to boxing and completing an unbeaten trilogy against Deontay Wilder. For years, the obvious question was what would happen if Britain's two leading heavyweights finally shared a ring.

However, circumstances have changed since then: Joshua lost his unified titles to Usyk in 2021 before being defeated in their 2022 rematch. Fury subsequently faced Usyk twice in 2024, losing both contests on points. The pair are therefore approaching a potential meeting from a different position than they would have earlier in their careers.

Yet their respective records, profiles and long-running rivalry mean Fury versus Joshua would still bring together two of the defining British heavyweights of their generation.

The uncertainty surrounding the negotiations has only extended the wait.

Is Anthony Joshua definitely Tyson Fury's next opponent?

No official announcement has yet confirmed Joshua as Fury's next opponent.

There are strong indications that both sides are working towards the fight. Fury's manager has expressed confidence that it will happen, while Joshua's promoter Eddie Hearn confirmed in early September that talks had reopened around staging the contest in Britain. However, the negotiations have also encountered repeated complications.

In late August, Fury's promoter Frank Warren said Fury intended to fight again regardless of whether an agreement with Joshua could be completed. At that stage, the venue and commercial arrangements remained significant obstacles. Fury subsequently turned his attention publicly towards another familiar opponent: Oleksandr Usyk.

Could Tyson Fury fight Oleksandr Usyk for a third time?

A third Fury-Usyk contest remains one of the most obvious potential storylines surrounding Fury's future, although there are considerable obstacles to making it happen. Usyk became the first boxer to defeat Fury professionally when the pair met for the undisputed heavyweight championship in May 2024. Their rematch followed in December, with Usyk again winning on points. Fury has repeatedly made clear that he would like another opportunity against the Ukrainian.

When doubts surrounding the Joshua negotiations intensified in September 2026, Fury publicly called for a third Usyk fight and indicated that he was looking for another opponent. Usyk's representatives have been considerably less enthusiastic. Sergey Lapin, the CEO of Usyk's promotional company Ready To Fight, said in June that he believed the Fury chapter was "closed". Usyk is expected to have one final fight before retiring, and his team has suggested that another Fury contest is not currently the priority.

After Fury's latest call-out, Usyk's manager Egis Klimas also rejected the suggestion of becoming an alternative if the Joshua negotiations failed. A trilogy therefore remains possible in theory, particularly while Fury continues to campaign for it, but there is currently far less evidence of active negotiations than there is for Fury versus Joshua.

What other fights could Tyson Fury have in 2027?

Predicting Fury's 2027 schedule is particularly difficult because so much depends on what happens during the remainder of 2026. If Fury and Joshua finally meet, the result could determine the direction of both men's careers.

A competitive first contest could naturally generate interest in a rematch. Fury has previous experience of extended heavyweight rivalries, most notably his three fights with Deontay Wilder.

Alternatively, victory could leave Fury pursuing other leading heavyweights or attempting to bring Usyk back to the negotiating table. There is also the possibility that the Joshua fight does not happen at all - Fury's team has previously indicated that he intends to remain active regardless of the outcome of those negotiations.

The heavyweight division can change significantly within a matter of months. New champions and challengers can emerge, while mandatory title obligations and negotiations can quickly alter the most attractive fights available. For that reason, any opponent beyond Joshua or Usyk should currently be regarded as speculative rather than an established plan.

Could Tyson Fury v Anthony Joshua happen in 2027 instead?

A 2027 date cannot be ruled out if negotiations for 2026 ultimately fail. The fight has been close to happening before without reaching the ring, so the current negotiations should not be treated as complete until an official announcement is made. There are, however, clear indications that the parties are still trying to stage the contest this year.

Fury's manager said on Friday 11th September that he remained "100 per cent" confident it would happen, with November and December among the possibilities discussed. Cardiff and Wembley have both been considered as potential British venues. The Times has subsequently reported that Cardiff is increasingly likely, subject to logistical and broadcasting considerations surrounding a possible late-night event. This means 2026 remains the immediate focus.

If those negotiations cannot be completed, however, Fury-Joshua would remain an obvious possibility for 2027 provided both fighters choose to continue their careers.

What could 2027 look like for Tyson Fury?

Fury's future could look very different depending on his next decision. A Joshua fight would finally settle one of British boxing's longest-running unanswered questions. A victory could lead Fury towards another major contest in 2027, while a close fight could immediately generate discussion of a rematch.

A third meeting with Usyk offers another storyline, although Usyk's representatives have so far shown little interest in reopening their rivalry.

There is also the wider heavyweight division to consider.

Fury has repeatedly demonstrated that his plans can change quickly. Retirement announcements, returns and unexpected opponents have all been features of his career. What is clearer this September is that Fury is active again. Rather than simply asking whether Fury will return to boxing, attention can now turn towards who he will face and how ambitious the next stage of his career will be.

What's next for Tyson Fury?

Anthony Joshua is currently the most significant name surrounding Fury's immediate future. Both fighters have returned to action, extensive negotiations have taken place and Fury's manager remains publicly confident that their long-awaited meeting will happen. Cardiff has now added another intriguing possibility to the story.

The Principality Stadium is reportedly under serious consideration for a fight later in 2026, potentially providing Fury and Joshua with a major British stage for a contest that has been discussed for years. But Joshua is only one part of the wider question surrounding Fury. A potential Usyk trilogy remains on Fury's agenda, even if Usyk's team currently appears unconvinced. The outcome of Fury's next contest could also create entirely different possibilities heading into 2027.

For now, Fury is back, preparing to fight and considering his options.

Whether the next chapter begins against Joshua in Cardiff, elsewhere in Britain or against a different heavyweight altogether remains to be confirmed.

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