The two hottest people in boxing’s heavyweight division are WBA Super, IBF, and WBO Champion Anthony Joshua and WBC (and lineal) Champion Tyson Fury. Obviously, the likely scenario would be to have the two square off at some point but this is boxing and sometimes that doesn’t always happen.
However, it seems Fury (30-0-1) v. Joshua (23-1) is expected to happen according to Joshua’s promoter Eddie Hearn. While it’s still early, Hearn said that the two sides “have agreed to the basics of [a two-fight] deal” at some point in 2021, with the first fight likely taking place next summer. It’s important to note that it’s still very early in the negotiation process and nothing is ever 100 percent until it is, but it’s a good start to the situation if this is being made public.
A lot can happen in between now and the first fight. For one thing, both people have to defend their championship titles and there’s no guarantee they’ll keep the belts. Joshua was expected to maintain his undefeated streak until he lost to Andy Ruiz Jr. last June. Joshua won the titles back in the rematch but the point is despite having one loss between the two, a loss could happen to either boxer and upend everything.
Fury was supposed to fight Deontay Wilder in July after Wilder exercised a clause for a third fight among the two but that was postponed due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Joshua’s June fight with Kubrat Pulev was also postponed.
Fury is also set to fight Dillian Whyte at some point in 2021 and Hearn said Fury has to fight Wilder by February 2021 so Fury has at least two more fights before his showdown with Joshua while Joshua likely has to fight Pulev in that time. If both are able to retain their respective championships, that would make a Fury v. Joshua fight must see as it means the winner would be the first undisputed heavyweight champion since Lennox Lewis in 2000.
[ESPN]
