British heavyweight boxer Tyson Fury will face Poland's Mariusz Wach in Pattaya, Thailand, on July 24, 2026, as a final tune-up before his expected November clash with Anthony Joshua, according to BBC Sport and Sky Sports.
The 37-year-old former two-time world champion is using the bout to prepare for the long-awaited meeting with Joshua, with both British fighters needing victories in their respective upcoming matches to secure the 2026 showdown.
Fury made a successful return from a 15-month retirement in April by securing a points victory over Russia's Arslanbek Makhmudov in front of over 60,000 fans at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium in London.
The day after Fury's bout, Joshua will stage his own comeback on July 25 against Kristian Prenga in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, marking his first ring appearance since surviving a fatal December 2025 car crash in Nigeria.
Wach, a 46-year-old veteran with 39 wins from 51 fights, has lost seven of his last 10 bouts, including a second-round stoppage against Britain's Moses Itauma in July 2024.
Fury Confident Ahead of Double Header
"2026 is a landmark year for me in boxing and I'm excited to be able to bring this event to Pattaya, a part of the world that is special to me," Fury said.
"We're coming together to put on a great show for the fans, while using the opportunity to give back to the local community."
Following his April victory, the Morecambe fighter immediately challenged Joshua, who was sitting ringside but declined to enter the ring, prompting Fury to express confidence regarding their future encounter.
"At the same time, I'm fully focused on preparing for a tough opponent and making sure I'm the best version of Tyson Fury going into fight night," he added.
"It's the start of a huge second half of the year for me."
The prospective heavyweight blockbuster has drawn significant interest from Saudi powerbroker Turki Alalshikh, sparking speculation that the eventual Fury-Joshua match could take place in the United States.
"I'll knock him out for sure," Fury told FurociTV. "He will not be able to survive against me.
He does not have any chin and I will bang him on it because I am quicker than him and I am a better boxer."
Fury criticized Joshua's recent durability, contrasting his performances with those of other heavyweights who fought Daniel Dubois.
He noted that Dubois' last five opponents included Oleksandr Usyk, Jarrell Miller, Filip Hrgovic, Joshua, and Fabio Wardley, and only Joshua went down multiple times.
"The only sucker to go down five times or even once was Joshua," Fury stated.
He also remarked that Saudi financing has streamlined the promotional process, removing traditional obstacles posed by promoters.
Eddie Hearn had previously announced in April that Joshua signed the contract to face Fury, resolving long-standing promotional obstacles.
