Eddie Hearn is negotiating a blockbuster heavyweight showdown between the two reigning World champions, Anthony Joshua and Tyson Fury. But here is one important condition.
The English fight promoter is insisting, that “the undisputed fight must take place in 2020”.
Before this happens, Joshua must put his IBF, WBA, WBO and IBO belts on the line against challenger Kubrat Pulev on June 20.
Fury, the WBC champion, is meanwhile set for a rematch with American Deontay Wilder in July. The towering Brit took the title away from Wilder a few weeks back with a seventh-round TKO.
Hearn is pushing for an all-British world heavyweight title battle between Joshua and Fury in December.
“The great thing is that Fury vs. Wilder 3 is in July and we (Joshua) box in June,” Hearn told Sky Sports News. “Now our intention, and conversations are ongoing, is to finalise the Fury vs. Joshua fight for December of this year.
The fight can be contracted now
“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 vs. Fury (the next fight),” said Hearn. “But we know that once Wilder exercised that rematch clause, Fury would have to fight him next. We understand Wilder wants to win his belt back.
“The proudness and ego of Wilder meant it was very unlikely he would step aside, he wants this rematch with Fury. The first undisputed fight must happen in 2020.”
“Joshua and Fury are certainly going to be boxing twice [or a] trilogy,” Hearn added. “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.
“We must try and do that fight in the UK. Ask AJ (Joshua) 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.
“It is never going to happen again”
“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 – this is never going to happen again. To do it in the UK would be very special.”
The most recent battle between Fury and Wilder was a pretty one-sided affair from the word go. The 6ft 9in Fury used his greater reach and 45 lb weight advantage to good effect.
But perhaps most important of all, the English defensive boxer of old, who fought a draw with Wilder a year ago, was no more. He came out as a dramatically-transformed brutal clubbing attacker and it saw him get a pair of quick knockdowns.
Then it saw Wilder bleeding from an ear and looking wobbly on his feet. Finally in the 7th round when Wilder was being pounded on the ropes in a corner, a towel was thrown in from an opposite corner.
In adopting his new, aggressive role, Fury (31-1-0, 21 KOS) had to fearlessly attacked a man (42-1-1, 41 KOs), seen by many as the biggest puncher in the sport’s history.
Fury exposed Wilder’s technical ability
Fury did more than that. He exposed the Bronze Bombers’ limited technical ability.
“The king has returned,” Fury said in front of the cheering crowd. “I just want to say a big shout out to Deontay Wilder. He came here tonight, he manned up and he showed the heart of a champion. He is a warrior, he will be back.”
“Things like this happen. The best man won,” was Wilder’s post-match comment. “My coach threw in the towel when I was ready to go out on my shield. I make no excuses tonight. I just wish that my corner would’ve let me go out on my shield. I’m a warrior.
“This is what big-time boxing is all about. The best must fight the best,” Wilder said. “Even the greatest have lost and came back. I have no excuses tonight. We will come back even stronger next time.”