Joshua, Fury to fight for new golden belt

Anthony Joshua and Tyson Fury will battle for a specially commissioned solid gold belt when they meet in their long-awaited all-British heavyweight showdown later this year, The Ring magazine has revealed.

The publication unveiled the “Fight of Britain” belt, commissioned by Saudi boxing chief Turki Alalshikh, describing it as 100 per cent gold. Images of the strap show red, white and blue colours embellished with Union Jacks and generous amounts of precious metal.

Neither fighter will hold a recognised world title heading into the bout, making the custom belt the only physical prize at stake when the two heavyweights finally settle their decade-long rivalry.

The fight is expected to shatter the Wembley gate record when tickets go on sale, though uncertainty remains over whether it will take place at all. Joshua must first come through a July 25 warm-up bout against Albanian fighter Kristian Prenga in Riyadh. Promoters Eddie Hearn and Frank Warren have both stated the Fury fight will not proceed if Joshua loses. Prenga has won 20 of his 21 bouts, all inside the distance.

Fury returned to winning ways in April, defeating Arslanbek Makhmudov by unanimous decision at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium in London. He holds a record of 35 wins, 24 by knockout, two losses and one draw.

Joshua last fought in December 2025, stopping YouTube personality Jake Paul in the sixth round in Miami, and carries a record of 29 wins, 26 by knockout, and four losses.

Beyond the gold belt and the gate receipts, the motivation for both fighters runs deeper. For more than a decade, Fury and Joshua have each staked a claim to be the finest British heavyweight of their generation, and only now, with both men in their mid-to-late thirties, will the argument be settled.

Meanwhile, heavyweight champion Oleksandr Usyk, who has beaten both men, has thrown his weight behind Joshua ahead of the showdown, revealing he has been working closely with the British-Nigerian fighter on tactics, mental preparation and strategy.

“In my opinion, if AJ wins against Fury… Fury is an unbelievable fighter and a very dangerous guy, but I love how Anthony works and how he has changed. I like Fury, he is my greatest best friend and an amazing fighter, but I want Anthony to win — he deserves it,” Usyk told BBC Sport.

Usyk also addressed the personal difficulties Joshua has faced following a fatal car crash that claimed the lives of two of his friends, drawing on his own experience of loss during the ongoing conflict in Ukraine.

“I said, listen, God gave you one more chance. Take this chance and don’t stop or cry. This is life, pray every day, and God will help you. Whatever you need, I will help,” Usyk said.

“Every day I pray for these guys — this is life. I don’t know what waits for my team and me tomorrow, but I continue to work, pray and help.”