Tyson Fury has done his part. The Gypsy King stopped veteran Mariusz Wach in Pattaya to set up the fight Britain has been waiting 13 years for: Tyson Fury vs Anthony Joshua.With both men having signed contracts, the only condition was surviving their tune-ups unscathed. On Friday night, Fury cleared his hurdle. Now all eyes turn to Joshua, who faces Kristian Prenga in Saudi Arabia on Saturday.
The Punch-Up In Pattaya
The bout was deliberately low-key. About 1,500 fans packed the Max Muay Thai Stadium in Pattaya, Thailand, for what was billed as a charity event. It was not shown live on TV. Instead, footage will appear later in the third season of Netflix’s At Home With The Furys.
Fury dominated from the opening bell. The 37-year-old former two-time world champion used his size, movement and experience to control a game but outgunned Wach. In the fifth round he trapped the Pole in the corner and landed five consecutive uppercuts.
Wach, 46, absorbed punishment for seven rounds. When he returned to his stool at the end of the seventh, his corner pulled him out. The ringside doctor waved it off, giving Fury the win by retirement. Boos rang out initially, before Fury consoled his opponent and turned them to cheers. “100 per cent. Mariusz is a big tough man, 6’8”. Big guy. In heavyweight boxing you can get knocked out by anybody,” Fury said afterwards.
Why Wach, and why Thailand
Fury wasn’t chasing belts or a big arena spectacle. He was chasing rounds. After two losses to Oleksandr Usyk in 2024, and a points win over Arslanbek Makhmudov in April, the goal was to sharpen timing without risking the Joshua fight.
Wach fit the brief. The Pole’s record stands at 39-14 with 20 KOs, and he had lost seven of his last 10, including a second-round TKO to Moses Itauma in July 2024. He had also previously lost to Hughie Fury, Dillian Whyte and Wladimir Klitschko.
Staging it off live TV was also strategic. By keeping it out of immediate public scrutiny, Fury controlled the narrative ahead of finalizing the Joshua bout. Proceeds from the 1,500 VIP tickets will go to homeless and starving children in Pattaya, and the WBC presented a special humanitarian belt.
The Joshua fight moves one step closerBefore either man stepped in the ring this weekend, Fury and Joshua signed contracts to finally settle their long-running rivalry. The deal was contingent on both coming through their warm-ups.
Fury has held up his end. “I got through my test tonight,” he said. “Let’s see if he gets through his test [vs Kristian Prenga tomorrow night]”.
Joshua, 36, faces Albanian Kristian Prenga at the Jeddah Superdome on Saturday. Prenga is 20-1 with 20 knockouts. Joshua is expected to win, but any slip-up would immediately throw the Fury showdown into doubt.
Both fighters are former world champions. Joshua is 29-4 with 26 KOs, Fury is 36-2-1 with 25 KOs. The bout has tentatively been pencilled in for November, likely in September, at a venue still to be confirmed. Fury even floated possibilities: “Ireland, New York, Las Vegas, London… even could be Pattaya, Thailand”.
This is the biggest all-British heavyweight fight in history. Fans have waited over a decade for it, through false starts, negotiations, and rival promotions.
A loss to Wach would have “cast serious doubt over the biggest fight in British boxing history” and dented financial valuations. By winning, Fury keeps the momentum and the money fight alive.
Joshua now carries the pressure. He hasn’t fought since the tragic car crash in Nigeria on December 29 that killed two of his close friends. He has spoken about using training to stay occupied during grief.
For Fury, the message was clear after beating Wach: he wants Joshua in the ring, and he wants answers. “The biggest test of it all is how big his balls are. I think he’s a big s**_house,” Fury said, referencing Joshua pulling out of a 2022 Wembley fight. L
The ball is in Joshua’s court. Win on Saturday, and the path to Fury vs Joshua is clear. Lose, and the domestic blockbuster collapses.
Fury returns home now to rest after a 10-week camp and four months away. He said he hopes to sign the final contract next week.
For now, Britain has one half of its dream fight confirmed. Fury stopped Wach. If Joshua stops Prenga, we finally get Fury vs AJ.
