Fury vs. Joshua

Tyson Fury vs. Anthony Joshua Fight

Tyson Fury and Anthony Joshua are close once again to meeting in the biggest fight in British boxing history.

They were on the brink of facing off in Saudi Arabia in August 2021, but now hope is high again that the dream fight could happen – and before the end of 2022.

The pair were set to clash for the first time on Saturday August 14, 2021, 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. Or find a suitable resolution or extension.

Fury duly knocked out Wilder in their third meeting, but  Joshua lost his IBF, WBA and WBO heavyweight titles to Ukrainian maestro Oleksandr Usyk by unanimous decision at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium. That wrecked for a little while any hope of a Fury vs Joshua showdown for the undisputed heavyweight title.

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

Fury vs Joshua could now happen later in this year – assuming Joshua defeats Usyk in their August rematch to regain the IBF, WBA and WBO titles. Fury of course has already stopped Dillian Whyte to retain his WBC, Ring magazine and lineal titles.

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 had been expected that Sky Sports and BT Sport would share the rights in the UK, but AJ has now jumped ship from Sky to DAZN. Meanwhile ESPN and DAZN would likely show the fight in the United States

Tyson Fury, now at the age of 33, 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 32-0-1 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 (24-2), at the age of 32, 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 in December 2020 to retain his titles. Then came that devastating loss to Usyk.

Furyjoshua.com will bring you all the latest Fury vs Joshua news, views and colour around the potential dream fight in the coming weeks and months.