Anthony Joshua isn't getting ahead of himself. The former heavyweight champion says beating Tyson Fury matters infinitely more than just signing papers for the fight.
Both men are chasing the November showdown. First, they'll take separate warm-up bouts to prepare for their long-awaited collision.
"I'm not pleased because the pleasure really comes after victory," Joshua told reporters. "Signing a contract doesn't mean anything.
Winning is the only true success."
Joshua, 36, faces Albanian boxer Kristian Prenga in Jeddah on July 25. It marks his return to the ring following a car crash in Nigeria last December that killed two close friends.
Fury, meanwhile, has been training hard in Thailand. He posted a video online hinting at an August 1 bout in Dublin, Ireland.
Veteran promoter Frank Warren appears to be organizing the Irish card. He's already ruled out pairing Fury with Andy Ruiz Jr., who famously upset Joshua in 2019.
Joshua won't be distracted by bigger names yet. His sole focus right now is Prenga in Saudi Arabia.
The bout was initially set for Riyadh but shifted to Jeddah. Officials confirmed the change weeks ago.
Joshua hasn't fought elite opposition since Daniel Dubois knocked him out in September 2024. Still, he's determined to climb back toward championship contention.
Boxing gives him purpose and direction, according to the former unified champ. He's rebuilding methodically, one fight at a time.
