Tyson Fury stops Mariusz Wach as warm‑up for potential showdown with Anthony Joshua

On 24 July 2026 Tyson Fury defeated Polish veteran Mariusz Wach by technical knockout in the seventh round at the Max Muay Thai Stadium in Pattaya, Thailand. The low‑key bout, attended by about 1,500 fans and not broadcast live, was billed as a stay‑busy warm‑up ahead of a possible British heavyweight clash with Anthony Joshua. After the win Fury challenged Joshua, saying, “Let’s see if he gets through his test… I think he’s a big s**thouse,” and indicated he would not travel to Saudi Arabia for Joshua’s next fight.

The following night, 25 July 2026, Joshua is scheduled to fight unbeaten Albanian Kristian Prenga in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, in an event billed “The Comeback.” The match is Joshua’s first since a fatal car‑crash in Nigeria that killed two close friends and serves as a stepping‑stone toward the anticipated Fury‑Joshua showdown later in the year. Joshua described Prenga as “very dangerous” in the pre‑fight press conference. Both fighters need to win to keep the proposed super‑fight on track, with the venue for that bout still undecided.

Fury entered the Pattaya fight at 265 lb, giving up 26 lb to Wach, and said he wants to stay active while waiting for a contract. Joshua’s comeback is also linked to his broader goal of returning to heavyweight title contention.