The relationship between the greatest exponents of heavyweight boxing has taken an unexpected turn in recent months. Although the sporting rivalry gave way to a close working alliance and a public friendship, the former British champion’s entourage Anthony Joshua does not definitively rule out a third confrontation in the ring against the Ukrainian Oleksandr Usyk.
The competitiveness of both athletes keeps open the possibility of a definitive closure for this fighting saga.
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Reconciliation and joint work in the gym have not extinguished the desire to improve in the training camp. Anthony Joshua.
Eddie Hearn warns that Anthony Joshua vs Tyson Fury would be off if both fighters fail to fetch their respective heat-up bouts ❌ pic.twitter.com/Y1mmeFesLt
— Sky Sports activities Boxing (@SkySportsBoxing) Could presumably 17, 2026
For the promoters of the discipline, professional boxing It is governed by championship opportunities and revenges that the public demandsso the non-public closeness between the heavyweights does not represent an insurmountable impediment to negotiating a new fight in the future.
An alliance born of adversity
The history between both boxers records two world championship matchups between 2021 and 2022commitments in which the Ukrainian took the victory by unanimous and divided decision respectively.
These results stripped Anthony Joshua of his WBA, IBF and WBO belts.
However, the passage of time and complex personal situations transformed the rivalry into a bond of mutual support in the gym.
The breaking point in their relationship occurred after the serious road accident that the British boxer suffered in Nigeria at the end of 2025, where two members of his work team unfortunately died.
From that moment on, the Ukrainian opened the doors of his camp in Europe, allowing Anthony Joshua was integrated into their physical and technical sessions, a gesture of solidarity that strengthened communication between both champions.
Competitiveness over friendship
The promoter Eddie Hearn analyzed the viability of a third contest despite the emotional bond that unites the athletes.
In an interview granted to the specialized portal BoxingScenethe manager of Matchroom Boxing ruled out that the exact camaraderie prevents a formal negotiation if sporting conditions and world titles are again at stake in the short term.
“I don’t think their friendship will get in the way. But boxing is a strange game. Part of AJ would always love to fight Usyk because he’s lost twice and the same with Fury. They’re competitors, they want to try to fight him again.”.
The strategic idea designed by the promoter seeks for its client to regain the status of absolute monarch.
Hearn detailed to the same source that the priority of Anthony Joshua is to resolve his immediate commitments before claiming a mandatory opportunity before the current owners of the WBA, WBC and IBF heavyweight belts.
“His ultimate goal is to win the world heavyweight championship again, but there are definitely a couple of things he wants to do. He wants to beat Tyson Fury and he wants to win the world title again. So our idea now is the idea that we have in front of us: Prenga and Tyson Fury. We have to win those two fights. If he wins those two fights, he can enter any fight, any championship he wants.”.
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