Before then, Fury, 37, has been expected to take another fight to stay active, and unbeaten Albanian Nelson Hysa now believes he is close to landing the opportunity.

Hysa says negotiations between the two camps have progressed to the point where only the final paperwork remains.

“This is good news that I’m hearing. I know that [my] team has spoken with Tyson’s team. It’s a pleasure to share the ring with Tyson Fury. I’m waiting for the final contract,” said Hysa to talkSPORT Boxing.

“I know the teams are negotiating everything, the date, the venue, and everything. All my fans, all my Albanian people, are waiting, and asking me when the match will be.”

The 41-year-old enters with a perfect 24-0 record, including 22 knockouts, though he has yet to face a leading heavyweight contender. His record has largely been built against modest opposition, making Fury a considerable step up in class.

If the deal is finalized, it would give Fury a second outing of 2026 before his long-awaited showdown with Joshua. Meanwhile, Joshua is scheduled to return on July 25 in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, where he is set to face Kristian Prenga before turning his attention to the Fury fight.