Fury vs. Joshua

Tyson Fury vs. Anthony Joshua Fight

Tyson Fury and Anthony Joshua had been all set to meet in the biggest fight in British boxing history in Saudi Arabia this summer.

The pair were set to clash for the first time on Saturday August 14, with an immediate rematch in November or December. Promoter Eddie Hearn had announced on March 15 that contracts had been signed for a two-fight deal.

But on May 17, just 24 hours after Fury had gleefully confirmed the date and venue, disaster struck. An arbitration ruling from the United States said Fury must resurrect his failed trilogy fight with Deontay Wilder by September 15. Or find a suitable resolution or extension.

So now Fury vs Joshua – at least in August – appears in grave peril. There is every chance Fury must first face Wilder instead, which would then see Joshua instead face Oleksandr Usyk. Any all-British superfight would then have to wait until November or December. Grim news indeed.

Fury and Joshua currently hold all the major heavyweight titles – Fury is the WBC, Ring magazine and lineal king while Joshua is the IBF, WBA and WBO champion.

Fury vs Joshua if and when it does happen smash all domestic box-office records. It will be front-page news in Great Britain for months beforehand. It should also give us the first undisputed heavyweight champion since Lennox Lewis back in 1999.

This superfight as stated would take place in Saudi Arabia, with COVID-19 restrictions making a UK venue impossible Both men are expected to earn purses of around $100million each – comfortably the biggest ever for British fighters. The Saudis are reportedly putting up a $150million (£107million) site fee – the biggest in boxing history.

The other thing that had been outstanding for Fury vs Joshua was official confirmation of that date and venue, and then TV broadcast details. It would be expected that Sky Sports and BT Sport will share the rights in the UK, while ESPN is favourite to show the fight in the United States. Elsewhere in the world DAZN, now live in more than 200 territories, is expected to be a serious player in hoovering up the rights.

Tyson Fury, now at the age of 32, is the outspoken larger-than-life ‘Gypsy King’ from northern England who stunned Wladimir Klitschko to become world champion in 2015 before depression and massive weight gain almost wrecked his career. His road to redemption has been an incredible story – crowned by a devastating destruction of the hitherto unbeaten ‘Bronze Bomber’ Deontay Wilder as Fury won back the world heavyweight title in February 2020.

The Morecambe behemoth (now 30-0-1 as a pro) has come a long way since his premature birth weighing just one pound. His father John Fury named him after former heavyweight king Mike Tyson. Nowadays a Fury fight is special stuff – and not just for fight night itself. The man brings pure theatre to any press conference he takes over.

Joshua (24-1), at the age of 31, meanwhile is the powerful superstar from Watford who ruled at amateur level to claim super-heavyweight gold at the 2012 Olympics in his home city. Then he blasted his way through the professional ranks.

Just like Fury, AJ enjoyed a career-defining night against Wladimir Klitschko. He defeated the valiant Ukrainian great in an epic Wembley showdown in April 2017. Joshua suffered a shock first pro defeat by late stand-in Andy Ruiz Jr at Madison Square Garden in New York in June 2019, but quickly avenged that seventh-round TKO loss by regaining his belts with a comprehensive points victory in Saudi Arabia in December 2019. More recently he knocked out Kubrat Pulev in nine rounds last December to retain his titles.

Now the scene appears to be set for Fury and Joshua to finally meet inside the ring. It is not just the fighters inside the ring who make this dream match such a tantalising prospect. Joshua’s promoter Hearn, Fury’s father John and half-brother Tommy (of Love Island fame) provide a colourful supporting cast.

Furyjoshua.com will bring you all the latest Fury vs Joshua news, views and colour around the dream fight in the coming weeks and months – charting every step of the route to an intoxicating fight night in front of a huge crowd both in the stadium and on TV.