Tyson Fury has announced that he will not attend Anthony Joshua’s upcoming fight in Saudi Arabia, describing this year as his final one in professional boxing. The 37-year-old heavyweight champion, known as the Gypsy King, is preparing to face Mariusz Wach on Sunday in Pattaya, Thailand, while Joshua is set to fight Kristian Prenga in Saudi Arabia the following day.
Fury dismissed suggestions that he would travel to watch Joshua’s bout as part of their long-anticipated rivalry. Despite the two fighters agreeing to a November showdown if both win their respective matches, Fury stated he has no interest in monitoring Joshua’s performance. “I’m not interested, I’ve got my own business to take care of. What he does with his business is nothing to do with me,” Fury said when asked about attending the event.
The British heavyweights have been attempting to arrange a high-profile fight for years, with their contracts now signed for a November meeting contingent on victories this weekend. While speculation has circulated that Fury might remain in Saudi Arabia to observe Joshua’s match, the champion said he intends to return home promptly after his fight.
Joshua, 36, is making his return to the ring after a serious car accident in Nigeria last December that tragically resulted in the deaths of two friends. Meanwhile, Fury’s bout against Wach will take place behind closed doors and will not be broadcast live. However, highlights are expected to appear in the next season of Fury’s Netflix documentary series, At Home With The Furys.
In addition to declining to attend Joshua’s fight, Fury revealed that 2026 will mark the end of his boxing career. “This is my final year. That’s why I want to be active. I don’t want to go on until I’m 65,” he said. When pressed on the finality of this decision, especially in light of previous retirements and comebacks, Fury was unequivocal: “This is the last year, yeah. Final year, 26.”
Having suffered two recent defeats to Oleksandr Usyk, Fury emphasized that his motivation now lies in personal enjoyment rather than titles or financial gain. “I just want to keep busy, keep active. It’s not about money, or belts, it’s about doing what I love to do and enjoying my career,” he explained.