Tyson Fury will defend his heavyweight status against Anthony Joshua in November after seeing off Mariusz Wach on July 24 in Pattaya, Thailand.
What happened in Pattaya?
Fury, 37, needed 12 rounds to outpoint Wach, 46, in a non-title bout staged at Max Muaythai Stadium. The Gypsy King had come out of retirement in April to outpoint Arslanbek Makhmudov by unanimous decision. Wach, a 2012 challenger for Wladimir Klitschko’s heavyweight belts, lost again in March to Viktor Vykhryst by unanimous decision.
Tickets for the Pattaya show went to local charities. Fury’s clash with Wach aired only on Netflix’s third season of At Home With The Furys, not on traditional TV.
Why it matters for Tyson Fury
The result keeps Fury on track for his November rematch with Joshua. The pair have signed to fight again provided both win their next bouts. Fury has held world titles twice and Joshua has done so twice as well.
Turki Alalshikh, the Saudi Arabian boxing chief bankrolling the Joshua–Fury rematch, wants the fight in England but may shift to the USA if Wembley’s 11 pm curfew blocks a late start. A 2 am UK start would be needed at Wembley, Alalshikh warned on July 9.
What comes next for Fury?
Fury now waits for the Joshua rematch details. Venue talks continue, with Wembley still in play if curfew rules bend. Alalshikh insists a global audience tops the priority list.
Fury’s undercard in Pattaya featured five fights, including a heavyweight showdown between Daniel Baer and Simon Ibekwe. Light heavyweight Michael Alan Flannery, cruiserweight Lucas Dassios, and heavyweights Mark Ahondjo and Arlo Stephens also featured on bouts yet to be announced.
The Wach factor
Wach has lost 13 times in 39 pro fights, including a two-round KO by rising prospect Moses Itauma in 2024. His 2012 shot at Klitschko’s titles ended in a unanimous decision loss. Wach entered the Fury fight on a three-fight slide.
Fury, meanwhile, has won four straight, including a 2024 return against Makhmudov.