Tyson Fury strengthened the possibility of a long-awaited all-British heavyweight showdown with Anthony Joshua after defeating Mariusz Wach by stoppage in Thailand on Friday.
The 37-year-old former world champion dominated the contest at the Max Muay Thai Stadium in Pattaya, forcing the experienced Polish boxer to retire on his stool after the seventh round. Wach, 46, was unable to continue for the eighth round.
The victory marked Fury’s 36th professional win and keeps alive hopes of a blockbuster fight against Joshua, who is scheduled to return to the ring against Albanian heavyweight Kristian Prenga in Saudi Arabia later on Saturday.
Reflecting on his performance, Fury said he had successfully passed his own test and was now waiting to see whether Joshua could do the same.
Rumours had suggested Fury would travel to Jeddah after the fight to stage a face-off with Joshua if both men emerged victorious. However, the British heavyweight dismissed the speculation, saying he planned to return home to spend time with his family instead.
Fury explained that after spending six of the past seven months away, his priority was reuniting with his wife and children before discussing his next fight, expressing optimism that a major bout could be agreed in the coming week.
Questions also remain over where a potential Fury-Joshua showdown would take place. While Joshua’s promoter, Eddie Hearn, has indicated that contractual obligations require the fight to be held in the United Kingdom, reports have continued to link the bout with venues in the United States.
Fury, however, said the location remains uncertain, suggesting the contest could be staged in cities such as Las Vegas, New York, London, or even Ireland.
The heavyweight contest against Wach was not broadcast live on television or radio. Instead, footage from the bout is expected to feature in the third season of the Netflix reality series At Home With The Furys.
