Tyson Fury will face Mariusz Wach in Pattaya, Thailand on 24 July in what serves as a tune-up before his potential clash with Anthony Joshua. The 37-year-old former world champion selected this location because he trains there regularly, making it a logical choice for his interim bout. Wach enters with a 39-51 record including 20 knockouts, though his recent form raises questions about his ability to test Fury seriously.

Anthony Joshua returns to action on 25 July in Riyadh against Kristian Prenga, marking his comeback from a December 2025 car crash in Nigeria that claimed two lives. Both British heavyweights must win their respective fights to make their scheduled 2026 encounter official. Joshua's promoter Eddie Hearn confirmed the Olympic gold medallist signed for the Fury fight in April, following Fury's points victory over Arslanbek Makhmudov at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium after his 15-month retirement.

Wach has struggled lately, winning just three of his last ten fights including a second-round stoppage defeat to Moses Itauma in July 2024. The 46-year-old also lost to Dillian Whyte in 2019 and Frazer Clarke four years later, suggesting he represents a manageable stepping stone rather than genuine threat. This fight likely functions as a confidence-builder for Fury ahead of the Joshua showdown.

Despite speculation about a potential U.S. venue involving Saudi powerbroker Turki Alalshikh, Hearn clarified that both fighters are contractually bound to stage their bout in the UK. The Dublin option Fury previously mentioned on 1 August has been abandoned in favor of this Thailand appearance, keeping the British showdown firmly on track for next year.