Tyson Fury has "indicated" he will return for a fight against Anthony Joshua if it is the "right deal", his promoter Frank Warren confirmed.
Warren confirmed negotiations for the long-awaited fight were taking place and that it would happen "sometime in late summer" in 2026.
Warren told Your Site News: "There's been some talks going on, there's nothing been signed yet, but Tyson's indicated if it's the right deal, he'll definitely do it.
"I think it's going in the right direction and hopefully we'll get some news pretty soon as to what's going to happen."
Warren added: "I do believe it will happen."
Joshua's promotional team, Matchroom Boxing, also 'want to make the fight and always have done', Your Site News understands.
A bout between Joshua and Fury - two of the greatest heavyweights of their generation and two of the best British heavyweights of all time - has been mooted for years but has never come to fruition.
But The Ring Magazine, owned by head of Riyadh Season, Turki Alalshikh, reported last week that the bout was being lined up for next year.
The publication also reported that both fighters were slated for separate fights in 2026 as part of Riyadh Season.
Having not fought since defeat to Daniel Dubois in September 2024, the 36-year-old Joshua returns to action this Friday against Jake Paul in Miami. Fury, 37, announced his latest retirement from boxing at the start of this year after two defeats to Oleksandr Usyk in 2024.
"AJ's fighting, or whatever you want to call it, this week against Jake Paul and there's talk of him fighting again early in 2026," said Warren.
"Tyson's been out for a while now. He may have a warm-up fight but if this fight happens - which I believe it will - it will be sometime in late summer.
"So that's another seven months away, so he'll certainly have a fight in between I think if he comes back."
On Fury's current condition, Warren added: "He has been in the gym full-time training very hard.
"He's in great nick, he looks well and he's said many times himself he would like to come back and fight again.
"And 2026 I believe, provided the deal's right, I think you'll see him back in the ring again."
The Queensberry Promotions founder says it is the fight long demanded by fans.
"The fans have been asking for this, and everybody has been talking about it, for years and years and years," said Warren.
"It's better that if it's going to happen it happens now rather than these guys come back and talk about doing it in five or six years' time.
"Anybody who I talk to about boxing that's the one thing they always mention - 'When are these two getting it on? Are they ever going to get it on? We never got to see it.'
"It will happen. I think it will happen and when it does happen I think it's going to be massive."
Warren also had his say in the Your Site interview about Joshua taking on YouTuber turned professional boxer Paul this week.
Asked if it was a potential banana skin for the returning Joshua, Warren replied: "Well, if it does, he won't be fighting Tyson Fury, that's for sure.
"Jake Paul has had 12 fights. He's never fought at this level, he's never fought at this weight at heavyweight and he's fighting a two-time world champion, former Olympic gold medallist who's still ranked in the top 10 despite his loss that he had against Daniel Dubois, his comprehensive loss against him.
"He should have too much - much, much too much - for Jake Paul and if he can't beat Jake Paul, we shouldn't even be talking about him fighting Tyson Fury.
"He shouldn't be fighting a 60-year-old Tyson Fury if he gets beat by Jake."
And on Paul taking on former heavyweight champion Joshua, Warren said: "It is dangerous. He's had 12 fights.
"He's in with a guy who has been there, has been world champion. Look what he did with the MMA fighter, Ngannou, he completely knocked him out.
"It's a massive risk for Jake. Some people have complained in the past about his opponents. Well they can't complain this time, he has gone from one extreme to another. This is a tough, tough fight for Jake, he'll be a massive underdog.
"I just can't see how he wins it unless he catches him with a tremendous punch and knocks him over."
