Tyson Fury and Anthony Joshua are edging closer to a fight in 2026 after years of failing to make it happen. Dave Allen, who has shared rounds with both, has made an early prediction.
Following Fury’s unanimous decision win over Arslanbek Makhmudov in London earlier this month, he turned his attention ringside to Anthony Joshua. Though ‘AJ’ refused the opportunity to step into the ring and announce the fight, he has made it clear that talks are progressing well and he will likely face Fury around November following a lower-level bout in July.
Speaking on his YouTube channel, Allen said drawing on his sparring experiences with the two former heavyweight champions may not be relevant in 2026.
“I always picked [Tyson] to beat Joshua because I always held Tyson in the highest regard as the best that I’d been in with. Joshua, for me, I would rate him probably fourth, third or fourth … You always think Fury will beat him based off that. For many years that was my train of thought.
“In 2026, it’s a totally different fight now, because we don’t really know what they’ve got left. I didn’t think Tyson was amazing [against Makhmudov], I thought he was a bit off the pace, but that fight will bring him on a lot. 12 rounds would’ve done him a favour but I’d have liked to see him get Makhmudov out of there, he’s that many levels above him.
“Then you look at Joshua. The Jake Paul thing, I don’t think it has [got the rust off Joshua]. I don’t think the [Fury] fight will happen next. I think Wilder is still a hard fight for Joshua.”
As for a prediction, ‘The White Rhino’ – who faces Filip Hrgovic next month at the Eco-Power Stadium in Doncaster – still sides with Fury, with the caveat that Joshua’s superior power could end it all in an instant.
“The question is who wins, Fury or Joshua in 2026? I still make Fury the favourite. No matter how old he gets, he’s a natural with it. Anthony Joshua has probably looked after himself a lot better, but Fury’s just a natural. He’s just got it. My prediction would be Fury on points if it’s to happen next … but you’d be watching through your fingers as a Fury fan, because I think it would only take one from Joshua to end it.”
Promoter Eddie Hearn’s latest update on the fight is that talks continue behind the scenes. He is targeting a top 20 heavyweight for the summer – Joshua’s first fight back since a car crash in which he was injured and two of his closest friends, Sina Ghami and Latif Ayodele, died.
