Tyson Fury’s November 20 heavyweight comeback schedule

Tyson Fury started training in Miami to prepare for a November 20, 2026, fight. This November 20 date remains firm for Fury even if the Anthony Joshua deal fails. I find the ongoing venue disagreement between the UK and the United States completely ridiculous. While Joshua’s promoter Eddie Hearn insists that the contract calls for a UK venue, the Saudi-owned fight organizer Sela prefers the event to take place at Madison Square Garden in the United States. The continuous disagreement between the British team and the Saudi organizers concerning the preferred location for the November 20 fight prevents any final confirmation of the venue for this massive and extremely long-awaited heavyweight showdown. Both fighters signed agreements earlier this year for a Netflix stream, yet the location remains unsettled. Joshua’s team wants a UK fight, but Sela wants the event in America. Fury expressed frustration regarding these delays and thinks the fight might not happen if financial demands from Joshua’s camp continue. I find the tension between the British promoters and the Saudi organizers makes the whole situation look unprofessional. The 2024 fight in Riyadh generated over $50 million in pay-per-view buys.

Usyk and the WBO Mandatory

Oleksandr Usyk faces pressure from the WBO to defend his title against Joseph Parker. The WBO ordered the mandatory defense because the interim championship ended. The WBO stated that the interim championship terminates expeditiously to ensure only one world champion per weight class. Parker fights Fabio Wardley this Saturday at the O2 Arena in London. If Usyk refuses to defend his title against the winner of Parker versus Wardley, the WBO will strip him of the belt. I think the WBO decision creates unnecessary chaos for the heavyweight division. Parker won a knockout victory against Martin Bakole in February, so he remains a threat. Usyk’s team previously negotiated a summer showdown at Wembley with Daniel Dubois, but the WBO ruling complicates things. Frank Warren also manages Moses Itauma, who the WBA ordered to fight Kubrat Pulev for the regular title. Pulev rejected the fight and scheduled a bout against Murat Gassiev in Dubai instead. This reshuffle shows how much control the sanctioning bodies exert over the Queensberry stable. Usyk remains the only professional opponent to have beaten Fury, having won both of their 2024 meetings. The first fight in Riyadh saw Usyk win by split decision, while the December rematch ended in a unanimous decision for the Ukrainian.

Fury’s Return Path

Fury aims for three fights this year: April, August, and the November showpiece. He defeated Arslanbek Makhmudov via unanimous decision in April. Makhmudov has 19 knockouts from 21 wins. He potentially faces Nelson Hysa in Dublin on August 1, a fight he mentioned on social media alongside training footage from Thailand. Shane Fury confirmed a backup opponent exists for the November 20 date if the Anthony Joshua deal falls apart. I find the secrecy regarding this replacement fighter frustrating. Joshua will face Kristian Prenga on July 25 in Riyadh to prepare for his own return. You already know the heavyweight division moves fast, so these warm-up bouts matter. Fury also mentioned that Andy Ruiz Jr. priced himself out of a comeback fight because of his financial demands. He called Ruiz a "little fat bum dosser" during an interview with iFL TV. I find the claim that Ruiz cannot generate enough revenue for a stadium show to be a weak excuse for avoiding the Mexican fighter. Fury previously noted that the rematch with Usyk in December 2024 had a total purse of $190 million. He also claimed that Andy Ruiz Jr. asked for ridiculous numbers that the promoters could not generate. Why does the Fury camp keep the identity of the November backup opponent a secret?