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British-Nigerian heavyweight boxer Anthony Joshua has said he will not celebrate the agreement for a long-awaited fight against rival Tyson Fury until he wins the bout.
Speaking on Monday, Joshua said that signing a contract is not an achievement in itself.
“I’m not pleased because the pleasure really comes after victory. Signing a contract doesn’t mean anything. Winning is the only true success,” Joshua said.
The highly anticipated “Battle of Britain” between Joshua and Fury is expected to take place in November, although both fighters are likely to have separate warm-up fights beforehand. Joshua is scheduled to face Albanian boxer Kristian Prenga in Saudi Arabia on July 25. The fight will be his first since a car crash in Nigeria last December that reportedly claimed the lives of two of his close friends.
Meanwhile, Fury recently posted a training video on social media, suggesting he could return to the ring on August 1 in Dublin, Ireland. No opponent has yet been confirmed for Fury’s proposed comeback fight. Joshua said his focus remains on the task ahead and the goals he has set for the year.
“What does boxing give me? It gives me an opportunity to work. I’m a contractor, this is a contract, this is my job,” he said.
The former heavyweight champion added that he has a clear plan for the months ahead.
“Give me the opportunity to fight Prenga, give me the opportunity to fight Fury, give me the opportunity to fight for the championship,” Joshua stated.
The 36-year-old has not faced a major opponent since losing to Daniel Dubois in September 2024. Despite growing excitement around a potential clash with Fury, Joshua insisted his attention remains on preparing for Prenga before looking ahead to bigger challenges
