Netflix has claimed the long-anticipated heavyweight clash between Tyson Fury and Anthony Joshua is set to go ahead later this year — despite Joshua insisting that no agreement has yet been finalised.
The all-British showdown, widely dubbed the “Battle of Britain”, has been teased repeatedly in recent months, with Saudi boxing powerbroker Turki Alalshikh among those pushing for the fight to happen.
Now, Netflix has added further fuel to speculation by suggesting it already holds the broadcast rights and declaring: “It’s happening.”
It's happening.
Tyson Fury vs. Anthony Joshua. This autumn from the UK. LIVE only on Netflix. pic.twitter.com/tG2CkdDdhK
— Netflix (@netflix) April 11, 2026
However, Joshua has moved to cool expectations, revealing that nothing has been signed and indicating the fight is currently on hold as he deals with personal circumstances following a fatal car crash in Nigeria that claimed the lives of two close friends.
Speaking after an awkward ringside exchange over the weekend, Joshua made clear his focus remains elsewhere for now.
“I was in a serious incident. There’s real stuff happening in my life. I’m not ducking anyone. Once I’m 100 per cent, I’ll fight,” he said.
The latest twist came after Fury’s victory over Arslanbek Makhmudov at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, where the WBC champion used his post-fight interview to directly call out his long-time rival in front of a packed crowd.
“I want to give you the fight you’ve all been waiting for,” Fury declared. “I want you, AJ, Anthony Joshua. Let’s give the fight fans what they want — the Battle of Britain. Do you accept my challenge?”
Despite being seated ringside, Joshua did not immediately respond, leading to a tense and highly scrutinised moment. Fury pressed further, adding: “Do you want the fight or not?! There’s no running from me this time — 10 years in the making, let’s dance.”
The exchange failed to deliver the expected face-off, with Joshua opting not to enter the ring — something Fury later described as “a bit suspect”.
Fury has since claimed he has already signed a contract for the bout, with his camp targeting a September date and potential venues including Wembley Stadium and Croke Park. His promoter and team remain confident the fight will take place before the end of the year.
“It’s either Joshua or I’m gone again,” Fury said, suggesting he could retire if the bout falls through once more. “That’s the defining fight for British boxing.”
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The rivalry between the two has stretched for over a decade, with repeated negotiations collapsing at various stages, frustrating fans eager to see the biggest names of their generation finally meet in the ring.
Fury also acknowledged Joshua’s personal situation, referencing his own past struggles.
“He’s had his problems. We all have… I’ve attempted to kill myself before. So I’ve been through it. We’ve all had problems and that’s life,” he said.
Still, he warned against any delay, pointing out the risks of interim fights in the heavyweight division.
“Taking interim fights in heavyweight boxing, you can get chinned by anybody,” Fury added.
For now, uncertainty remains. While Netflix’s apparent involvement signals the scale and commercial appeal of the proposed bout, Joshua’s comments underline that a deal is not yet across the line.
With negotiations ongoing and both fighters publicly stating their willingness — albeit on different timelines — the sport’s most anticipated fight remains tantalisingly close, but still not officially confirmed.
