An all-British world heavyweight title unification fight between Anthony Joshua and Tyson Fury represents a mouthwatering proposition.
Such a battle is within touching distance following Fury’s stunning seventh-round stoppage of Deontay Wilder in Las Vegas in the early hours of Sunday morning to capture the WBC heavyweight belt.
Here, the PA news agency looks at the permutations surrounding a possible match-up that Joshua’s promoter Eddie Hearn has already said he would like to see this summer.
What needs to happen for it to take place?
Matchroom Boxing ✔ @MatchroomBoxing 🗣️ “We are happy to all move together and make the #Undisputed fight… For me, it’s happening!”@EddieHearn talks a potential @anthonyfjoshua and Tyson Fury clash taking place this year 👑
Watch in full: http://youtu.be/OICKK-RYXm8
127 11:47 PM – Feb 24, 2020 Twitter Ads info and privacy 45 people are talking about this First and foremost, we have to wait and see whether Wilder will activate the rematch clause in his contract for the second meeting with Fury, with late-March the deadline.
Joshua also faces a mandatory clash with Kubrat Pulev, that at present is understood to be slated for June 20 at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium. Pulev and Fury, however, possess the same promoter in Bob Arum. As Hearn has stated, it would be “an easy manoeuvre” in getting the Bulgarian to step aside.
As for the WBC’s number one contender, Dillian Whyte, he has long waited for his title chance. Although guaranteed his opportunity by the sanctioning body in February 2021, it seems certain he will have to wait for his opening then.
What about the money?
Negotiations over purse percentages could be extremely complicated, as we have previously seen when the clamour was for Joshua to fight Wilder, only for that to fall by the wayside.
A smaller obstacle is television rights, with Fury signed up with ESPN, and BT Sport in the UK, while Joshua is with Sky Sports. Hearn says that while there are “hurdles to overcome” with regard to broadcasting, they are “nothing too much”.
Where could it happen?
The most obvious choice would appear to be Wembley, where Joshua has twice fought in the past. There would be a guaranteed gate of 90,000, and would almost certainly be Joshua’s preference.
Fury, though, has enjoyed being Stateside, where he has marketed himself to tremendous effect since his comeback, winning over the American fans with his charismatic personality. He has suggested if there is to be a third fight with Wilder he would like to see that at the 72,000-capacity Allegiant Stadium in Las Vegas that is soon due for completion. It also represents a viable venue for any showdown with Joshua.
But, as we all know, money talks in boxing, as witnessed when Saudi Arabia staged Joshua’s rematch with Andy Ruiz Jr in early December at the 15,000-seater Diriyah Arena, paying a vast sum to be the host. It has been reported the powerbrokers behind it were also ringside for Fury-Wilder II. Money would be no object in putting on the biggest fight for decades.
