Tyson Fury to face Nelson Hysa in warm-up bout before Anthony Joshua fight
Tyson Fury will fight 41-year-old Albanian heavyweight Nelson Hysa in a Dublin warm-up bout on 1 August before facing Anthony Joshua.
The Gypsy King has already signed a contract to meet his long-time British rival in the ring before the end of 2026.
Both star heavyweights have scheduled preparatory contests this summer to stay sharp ahead of their blockbuster showdown.
While Joshua travels to Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, to face Kristian Prenga on 25 July, the former unified world champion heads to Ireland for his own tune-up.
Familiar foe for the British star
Details emerging from Boxing News suggest the choice of opponent for the August clash may draw criticism from the sporting public.
Hysa currently holds the WBO Global Heavyweight Championship and remains undefeated, but the veteran is widely considered to be past his physical prime.
The Albanian fighter is already well known to the 37-year-old Mancunian, with the pair having sparred together frequently over the years.
Final details are currently being negotiated to officially sign the veteran challenger as the last obstacle before the all-British mega-fight.
The undefeated 41-year-old represents a noticeable step down in competition compared to Arslanbek Makhmudov, whom the towering heavyweight comfortably defeated during his comeback appearance in April.
Albanian rivals take different approaches
Interestingly, Hysa is ranked as Albania’s top heavyweight, sitting just one place above Joshua’s upcoming opponent.
Prenga has adopted an aggressive stance towards his Saudi Arabia contest, promising to derail the long-awaited mega-fight.
“Brother, it’s like going from one to 100. Everyone will see on July 25 who I really am.”
“They chose me as a warm-up fight for him and Tyson Fury but that’s not going to happen. I am going to cancel that, that’s for sure.”
Conversely, the newest Queensberry Promotions signing may treat the Dublin contest more like an exhibition given his existing relationship with the British titleholder.
The bout will serve as the co-main event supporting the IBO Super Lightweight Championship clash between Pierce O’Leary and Mark Chamberlain.
Should both British stars navigate their respective summer challenges safely, the path will finally be clear for the historic battle the boxing world has craved.