Nigerian-born world heavyweight boxing champion, Anthony Olaseni Oluwafemi Joshua’s promoter, Eddie Hearn has declared emphatically that his ward must fight new rival belt holder and fellow-British pugilist, Tyson Fury this year, megasportsarena.com reports.
Although Joshua has a mandatory title defence on June 20 against Bulgaria’s Kubrat Pulev and Fury is set for a third bout with former champion, Deontay Wilder the following month, Hearn stressed that it is a clash of both Brits that the world wants to see.
With that in mind, the MatchRoom Promotions boss disclosed that negotiations are already on to get Joshua to step out against Fury this year, at a venue somethere in the United Kingdom.
Before then, though, Joshua will defend his IBF, WBA and WBO heavyweight titles against Pulev at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium in London, while Fury faces Wilder in a rematch, which will have his World Boxing Council (WBC) belt on the line.
Joshua’s next opponent, Pulev and Fury have the same promoter in Bob Arum of Top Rank, but talks the two Brits clashing soon were scampered when Wilder, who lost his undefeated record and WBC title to ‘The Gypsy King’ in Las Vegas, USA last month, triggered a contract clause for a third bout with his conqueror, who he first drew with in 2018.
Nonetheless, Hearn is staying upbeat for an all-British world heavyweight boxing unification fight before this year runs its full course, as he pointed out that Joshua and Fury will inevitably share the ring more than once, and he says the first of those bouts should be staged in the UK.
Hearn said: “Joshua and Fury are certainly going to be boxing trilogy. That’s part of the deal that we are looking to do ASAP – a two-fight agreement with Fury and Arum at the end of this year then summer 2021.The undisputed fight must happen in 2020. There’s no reason not to get that contracted now, subject to both guys winning in the summer.
“We had numerous conversations with Bob Arum at Top Rank over making Joshua versus Fury, but we know that once Wilder exercised that rematch clause, that fight would be made. We understand Wilder wants to win his belt back.
“The proudness and ego of Wilder meant it was very unlikely. He’s not stepping aside, he wants this rematch with Fury.
“We must try and do that fight in the UK. Ask AJ and Fury where they would like it, and they would say the UK. We know there will be huge offers from around the world. Our priority is to try and make this fight in the UK.
“There will be two of these, maybe three, so certainly summer 2021 we’ll get one in the UK. I would love to make the first one in the UK because we’ve got two British world champions who will fight for the undisputed title. To do it in the UK would be very special.”
On his part, Arum hinted that Fury could be on course for a unification fight with Joshua in the month of November and then take on another British fighter, Dillian Whyte in February 2021.
‘The Gypsy King’ bulldozed Wilder (The Bronze Bomber) in their second clash, as the American’s corner threw in the towel in the 7th round, and the 31-year-old Fury will look to do same again in mid-July after the former champ seized the chance of a trilogy.
It means Fury will have two fights left on his contract after battling Wilder and he wants to take on Joshua and Whyte, ahead of which Arum said he has already agreed with WBC president, Mauricio Sulaiman that his ward will box whoever he wants.
Arum told World Boxing News: ‘Fury will fight Wilder in July. He could then possibly fight the Anthony Joshua versus Kubrat Pulev winner in November. Then Dillian Whyte in February. Why not?’
