Tyson Fury has confirmed he will return to the ring later this month for one final outing before his long-awaited showdown with Anthony Joshua, taking on Polish heavyweight Mariusz Wach in Thailand.
The contest is scheduled for July 24 at the Max Muay Thai Stadium in Pattaya and will be streamed live around the world on Netflix.
Fury’s comeback bout comes just one day before Joshua is due to face Albania’s Kristian Prenga in Saudi Arabia, with both British stars expected to emerge unscathed ahead of their proposed all-British heavyweight blockbuster later this year.
The long-discussed clash between Fury and Joshua moved a significant step closer after the pair agreed terms earlier in 2026, setting the stage for one of the biggest fights in British boxing history.
Before then, however, both men must navigate what are widely viewed as final preparation fights.
Fury’s opponent brings considerably more top-level experience than Joshua’s. Wach challenged Wladimir Klitschko for the unified heavyweight world title in 2012, extending the Ukrainian champion the full 12 rounds before suffering the first defeat of his professional career.
Tyson Fury (above) is set to fight Polish boxer Mariusz Wach in Thailand on July 24
Wach (left) pictured in action against Moses Itauma during their fight in London back in 2024
However, much has changed since then.
Now 46, Wach enters the contest with a 39-13 record after enduring a series of defeats during the latter stages of his career. He has lost on points to Dillian Whyte, Hughie Fury and Frazer Clarke, while highly rated prospect Moses Itauma stopped him inside two rounds in 2024.
As a result, attention is likely to focus not only on whether Fury wins, but on how convincingly he deals with an opponent who has increasingly become a measuring stick for Britain’s rising heavyweight contenders.
The former world champion has spent much of his training camp in Thailand, making Pattaya a logical venue for the fight. Fury is then expected to travel directly to Jeddah to watch Joshua’s contest from ringside before promotional attention shifts fully towards their anticipated meeting.
The July contest will be Fury’s second fight since ending a 16-month retirement. He returned in April with a points victory over Arslanbek Makhmudov at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, his first appearance on British soil in more than three years.
Queensberry Promotions have also confirmed that ticket profits will be donated to local charities, as Fury is to be presented with the inaugural WBC Humanitarian title.
Speaking after confirming the event, Fury said he was pleased to stage a fight in a country that has become a key part of his preparations.
He is set for a potential blockbuster bout with British rival Anthony Joshua at the end of 2026
He added that he wanted to deliver an entertaining event for supporters while remaining fully focused on producing the performance needed before the biggest fight of his comeback.
‘This is a landmark year for me in boxing and I’m excited to be able to bring this event to Pattaya, a part of the world that is special to me,” said Fury, referencing his training in Thailand.
‘We’re coming together to put on a great show for the fans, while using the opportunity to give back to the local community, who have been so good to me every time I have visited.
‘At the same time, I’m fully focused on preparing for a tough opponent and making sure I’m the best version of Tyson Fury going into fight night. It’s the start of a huge second half of the year for me.’
