LONDON, United Kingdom (AFP) — Anthony Joshua’s promoter Eddie Hearn has dismissed comments from Tyson Fury that the long-awaited clash between the two former world heavyweight boxing champions may not happen.

Fury and Joshua are both back in the ring this week for bouts against Poland’s Mariusz Wach and Albania’s Kristian Prenga, respectively, that are seen as must-win warm-up fights if their “Battle of Britain” is to go ahead.

Fury, 37, faces Wach in the Thai resort of Pattaya on Friday in what is effectively a charity contest, with no live broadcast, while compatriot Joshua, 36, is in action the following day in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia.

The British rivals are expected to finally meet in November, with a date and venue yet to be announced for a bout many boxing fans wish had taken place when at least one of the duo still held a world championship belt.

Two-time heavyweight champion Joshua’s bout with Prenga will be his first professional fight since being involved in a car crash in Nigeria in December that killed two of his close friends.

Fury, in a recent interview with Sky Sports, said he is prepared to face “somebody else” later this year.

But Hearn insisted Fury was more likely to pull out given his record.

“Look at history,” Hearn told Sky Sports. “Check the facts, check the resume. If you really want to pick one fighter who’s more reliable than the other, I don’t think it’s a close-run race.

“What fight has AJ ever pulled out of? Don’t forget, AJ has not only fought every contender he could have, but he also previously signed to fight Tyson Fury, who pulled out of the fight because of an arbitration ruling involving Deontay Wilder.”

“The only thing that’s going to stop the fight from happening in November is if one of these guys gets beat this weekend or picks up an injury.”

Joshua, speaking Wednesday, said he was still struggling to process the deaths of Sina Ghami and Latif “Latz” Ayodele, who were both killed in the crash near Lagos on 29 December.

“It’s tough, every time I think about it, it hurts,” Joshua told the BBC.

“Even talking about it now... pictures… it hurts, but I keep my mind occupied, you know. If I stop, you let it sink in, and I’m not ready for it to sink in yet.”

Ghami was Joshua’s full-time sport and exercise rehabilitation coach and worked with him for more than 10 years, with Ayodele, also a close friend, his personal trainer.

Saturday’s bout will be Joshua’s first competitive fight since his knockout loss to International Boxing Federation world champion Daniel Dubois at Wembley Stadium in September 2024.