British boxing legend Lennox Lewis has dropped a bombshell, declaring that a deal for the historic showdown between Anthony Joshua and Tyson Fury is 'signed' and set for 2026. The revelation came after Joshua's dominant victory over Jake Paul in Miami.
Joshua Shakes Off Cobwebs With Brutal Paul Finish
The stage was set in Florida on Friday night, where Anthony Joshua returned to the ring after a 15-month layoff. His opponent, YouTube star turned boxer Jake Paul, employed a cautious strategy early on, frustrating the two-time heavyweight champion by keeping his distance.
However, the fight turned decisively in the sixth round. Joshua slowed the American with a series of powerful body shots before ending the contest with a vicious right hand that broke Jake Paul's jaw, securing a stoppage win in what was widely seen as a mismatch.
AJ Calls Out Fury: 'Talk With Your Fists'
Fresh from his victory, Joshua immediately turned his attention to the one man he has long sought to fight. In a fiery post-fight interview, he directly challenged Tyson Fury to finally step into the ring.
'I had a 15 month layoff, we shook off the cobwebs,' Joshua stated. 'If Tyson is as serious as he thinks he is, if he wants to put down his Twitter fingers and put on some gloves... let's see you in the ring and talk with your fists.' This fight was Joshua's first since a devastating knockout loss to Daniel Dubois and subsequent elbow surgery.
Lewis Inserts: 'The Fight Has Been Signed'
The most significant news of the night came from Hall of Famer Lennox Lewis, who was part of the Netflix broadcast team. He cut through years of speculation and failed negotiations to make a definitive claim.
'It's the fight we are waiting for,' Lewis insisted. 'Both are talking about it, the fight has been signed, so that is what we are waiting for next. Tyson Fury and Anthony Joshua, one of the biggest fights in British history, it is going to happen.'
This potential clash, often dubbed the 'Battle of Britain', has collapsed on countless previous occasions. While it was once envisioned as a unification bout for all the world titles, both men have since lost their belts. This means the 2026 meeting is likely to be a non-championship mega-fight, though its commercial and cultural significance remains enormous.
Promoter Eddie Hearn echoed the sentiment, shifting focus to the future: 'We want the Tyson Fury fight. That's the biggest fight in boxing. Respect to Jake Paul, he did a great job. 2026, back to the real business. Tyson Fury and the world heavyweight championship.'
Despite both fighters arguably being past their absolute peak, a Joshua-Fury showdown promises to be the most lucrative and watched event in British boxing history, finally delivering a fight the nation has demanded for nearly a decade.
