Anthony Joshua and Tyson Fury agree to 'biggest fight in British boxing history'
The boxers, who are the current holders of the heavyweight belts, have agreed financial terms for a highly-anticipated showdown.
Wednesday 10 June 2020 23:35, UK
Anthony Joshua and Tyson Fury have agreed to a heavyweight showdown in what is likely to be billed as the biggest fight in British boxing history.
Joshua, from Watford, and Fury, who was born in Manchester, are the current holders of the world heavyweight belts.
Joshua's promoter Eddie Hearn told Sky Sports on Wednesday that both of the fighters' camps had agreed to two bouts.
Fury later said in a video message on Twitter: "The biggest fight in British boxing history has just been agreed. Get in there my boy!"
Hearn had said: "We're in a good place.
"It's fair to say that, in principle, both guys have agreed to that fight. Two fights."
He added that the first bout would be "the biggest fight ever in British boxing", and continued: "It doesn't get bigger, and there will never be a bigger fight in our generation."
Specific dates and venues have not been finalised and contracts have not been signed, but Hearn said the sides have agreed on the financial terms.
He added: "The first fight could happen next summer."
However, he acknowledged that there is "still a lot to overcome" as both boxers have bouts lined-up first.
Fury plans to fight Deontay Wilder for a third time before taking on Joshua.
Bob Arum, Fury's promoter, said on Monday his fighter "owes" Wilder a third contest after claiming the WBC belt off the American with a seventh-round stoppage in February.
Fury described a third Wilder fight as a "hurdle" on Wednesday.
He said: "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."
Arum, the chief executive of the Top Rank promotion company, said they are aiming for the Wilder fight to happen in November or December.
He added that only then would Fury turn his attention to Joshua, who is the WBA, IBF and WBO titleholder.
Fury also has a mandatory title defence against Dillian Whyte.
Joshua is set to fight mandatory IBF challenger Kubrat Pulev this year.
Both camps will be keen to hold the fights in packed venues, which is not possible today because of coronavirus restrictions.
The Fury vs Wilder rematch drew a sellout crowd in Las Vegas that set a record of more than $17m (£13m) for the live gate, which is separate from pay-per-view.