Tyson Fury has confirmed he has agreed a two-fight deal to take on fellow British world heavyweight champion Anthony Joshua.
Fury took to Twitter to confirm the news on Wednesday afternoon, after earlier in the day Joshua’s promoter Eddie Hearn had revealed the two fighters now have a deal in principle for two fights. Fury backed that up, revealing from his side the blockbusting double-header is now no longer just a dream, it is a reality.
He said: “I’m just after getting off the phone with Daniel Kinahan. He’s just informed me that the biggest fight in British boxing history has just been agreed. Get in there my boy!
“Big shout out to Dan – he got this done, literally over the line, two-fight deal. Tyson Fury vs Anthony Joshua next year. One problem – I’ve just got to smash Deontay Wilder’s face right in, in the next fight. And then we go into the Joshua fight next year.
“So there we are – the Gypsy King vs Aj is on for next year but there’s a hurdle in the road called the ‘Bronze Bomber’ – aka the knockout king. And I will get onto him and knock him spark out. So big thanks to Dan for getting this over the line.”
It’s official FURY VS JOSUAR AGREED FOR NEXT YEAR, I got to smash @bronzebomber first then I’ll annihilate @anthonyfjoshua #WEARESPARTANS
MASSIVE THANKS TO DANIEL KINNERHAN FOR MAKING THIS HAPPEN.???????????????? god bless pic.twitter.com/18FfVKfCax
— TYSON FURY (@Tyson_Fury) June 10, 2020
Wednesday’s news comes after weeks of frenzied speculation that the fight the whole of Britain is desperate to see will now happen at last.
First of course, both fighters have assignments lined up for this year – WBC and Ring magazine king Fury (30-0-1) in the form of that third showdown with Wilder – which is likely to take place in either November or December. Macau and Australia are mooted as potential venues.
IBF, WBA and WBO title holder Joshua (23-1) meanwhile must undertake a mandatory defence against Bulgarian veteran Kubrat Pulev. That had been due to take place in June at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium but the fight was postponed due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic.
A number of potential venues will be in the mix to stage the Fury vs Joshua megafight – with most British fans obviously desperate to see it in the UK. Wembley Stadium outdoors next summer in front of 90,000 would do just nicely for them.
But Saudi Arabia – which staged Joshua’s rematch victory over Andy Ruiz Jr last December – is also likely to be in the mix. And the fight capital of Las Vegas is sure to be a heavy player – Fury’s rematch win over Wilder in February brought in a record live gate for a heavyweight bout of almost $17million.
