Well, we got there … just.
Saturday’s scare in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia for Anthony Joshua, lifting himself up off the canvas twice in the opening round, surviving on shaky legs, and then rallying to dispatch massive underdog Kristian Prenga after 2:43 minutes of the second round, for moments, seriously put the Tyson Fury meeting in jeopardy. Or at least a meeting for anything that had any meaning other than national bragging rights.
That ‘AJ’ was able to rally and prevail after coming through such trauma was in itself a result. He was dropped by a right uppercut within seconds of the opening bell, by an opponent, whilst no one gave a hope beforehand, was at least coming in with a 20-1 (20 KOs) record.
Although touching down for a second time in the opening round, Joshua’s recovery was only remotely complete by the opening bell for the second round. The minute in between rounds was a Godsend and he was helped immensely by Prenga not seizing on his initiative and advantage from the first.
Millions of pounds/dollars were at risk if Prenga had managed to derail the Joshua-Fury match, and maybe disappear up in smoke completely. We can be thankful that wasn’t the case.
The ‘Gypsy King’ Fury had managed to keep his part of the bargain in Pattaya, Thailand a night earlier with a comprehensive, albeit laboured, seventh round stoppage of Mariusz Wach. The Polish warhorse never threatened to win and succumbed between the 7 and 8th round to his round-by-round beat up to then.
We now await the date and venue to the biggest ‘money’ fight in boxing. London should be favourite given the nationality and draw of the protagonists, but an outdoor autumn stadium fight in the UK would tend to lessen the odds. Look to Las Vegas or even Saudi Arabia again being the venue.
Such is the draw of Fury and Joshua in the UK that it has to be a stadium fight, and it that happens, it won’t happen in 2026. Watch this space for further updates. For now, we’re just thankful that it remains a possibility taking place at all.
The Undisputed 