It is September 2024 and we are still waiting for the boxing superfight the whole of Britain wants to see – Tyson Fury vs Anthony Joshua.
It seems like an eternity ago – it was actually 2020 – when it appeared there was a deal in principle for the two British world heavyweight champions to meet. Then in August 2021 it appeared the deal was finally DONE – until up popped Deontay Wilder to win an arbitration ruling to force a trilogy fight vs Fury.
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There was still hope the pair would meet once Fury had taken care of Wilder in their third meeting – but before he could even get into the ring, Joshua had lost his world titles to Oleksandr Usyk.
There was hope again in late 2022 when Fury and AJ again engaged in talks about a fight late that year, but again the deal was agonisingly close but no cigar as Fury instead took on a trilogy showdown vs Dereck Chisora.
Earlier this summer we were again close, but Fury lost his heavyweight title unification showdown vs Usyk in Riyadh, and now the pair are heading for a contracted rematch in December.
READ MORE: Latest heavyweight rankings ahead of Joshua vs Dubois
Now the situation is this – Joshua will challenge Daniel Dubois for the IBF title at Wembley on Saturday night, while Fury and Usyk will do battle for the other titles (WBC, WBA, WBO, Ring magazine and lineal) on December 21.
Saudis want Fury vs Joshua in 2025
Saudi General Entertainment Authority Chairman Turki Alalshikh has already voiced his desire for Fury and Joshua to meet in early 2025, but results before then will determine just how big the fight is.
Joshua’s promoter Eddie Hearn believes it will happen in 2025, in fact he says it MUST. But he also admits that Fury and AJ winning their fights in the next three months will in the end decide just how many dollars are on the table.
READ MORE: Ben Davison confident Joshua will KO Dubois AND beat Usyk
If Joshua wins the IBF title on Saturday, and Fury gains revenge over Usyk, then an all-British showdown early next year would be for all the marbles – the undisputed heavyweight championship of the world. And both men would likely pick up north of £100million each (Hearn has already predicted this). If either loses, then some of the gloss – and the financial revenues – are likely taken off.
Hearn told the BBC: “I do think AJ-Fury will happen regardless of whether Fury wins or not, but the size of the fight depends on their next two results.”
When asked whether there is a 2025 deadline for the fight to happen, Hearn replied: “Yes, definitely.”
Riyadh Season hits Wembley
The money being invested by the Saudis in boxing will again be showcased on Saturday night when a record boxing crowd of 96,000 packs Wembley Stadium for Joshua vs Dubois. With Liam Gallagher on hand to sing and a terrific undercard, it’s a fitting spectacle for the first Riyadh Season event in the UK.
READ MORE: Top heavyweight highlights MAJOR ISSUE for Tyson Fury
The desire for Fury vs Joshua to happen – whether it be at Wembley or in Riyadh – is strong. Hearn believes it is too big not to…
“If AJ beats Dubois and Fury beats Usyk, you’ve got the biggest fight in the history of the sport ever. If one loses and the other wins, it’s still a monster fight.”
