Tyson Fury vs. Anthony Joshua - 2020 OLD thread

[jameswilson]

are you high bro?

[Ruthless-RKO]

Fury-Joshua: Negotiations Ongoing, Hearn Confident Fight Will Happen

Eddie Hearn, promoter for IBF, IBO, WBA, WBO heavyweight champion Anthony Joshua, says it's very unlikely that a showdown with WBC champion Tyson Fury takes place in the UK - at when it comes to the first bout.

The teams for both boxers are in active talks to finalize a two-fight series in 2021.

The first bout of the series would take place by the early part of June - and the location would depend on the highest bidder to host and the COVID-19 restrictions in the respective country.

At the moment, the COVID cases in the UK are sharply rising and boxing has been put on pause in the country - making it unlikely that Fury-Joshua would land there in the first half of 2021.

There is already a verbal deal in place, for a 50-50 financial split on the first meeting.

Hearn appears confident the contest will actually take place without a hitch.

"I think it’s hotting up nicely. The mind games are starting. AJ is working tirelessly away in London and I think Tyson has gone to Miami to train and I think AJ will be going somewhere to train soon as well," Hearn told IFL TV.

"I think everything is great. There’s been conversations every day for the last two weeks on that fight. A lot of the travelling I’ve been doing lately has been looking at where that fight can be staged as well. As we have done for a long time, we have an agreement on that fight. We have an agreement, which was agreed a long time ago. Nothing has changed. We are not looking to go back on that agreement, I don’t think Tyson Fury is looking to go back on that agreement.

"We’re in the position now of drafting paperwork to try and move forwards with that fight so I think from a pandemic point of view it’s difficult because the world is changing every day. One minute something is opening, another something is closing. But that fight is planned for the end of May, early June and I don’t see anything getting in the way of it.

"We’ve been drafting contracts, it’s not signed but the deal has been agreed for a long time, we’ve confirmed that in writing. I feel like the fight is virtually there, to be honest with you. We’re in the final stages of everything that’s got to be worked out. There have been meetings taking place on where this fight is going to be held. There’s various countries. I’ve visited a few of them in the last few weeks and days and I think we’re in a good position. There’s some wacky stuff. There’s some stuff you’d expect and again, I know everyone wants it in the UK but at the moment they aren’t even allowing boxing so we’ve got a long way to go."

[Ruthless-RKO]

Shockingly, Middle East still favored to host Tyson Fury vs. Anthony Joshua

Tyson Fury and Anthony Joshua will fight in the Middle East, most likely in Saudi Arabia, if the fight goes ahead in the coming months.

That remains the view of every bookmaker WBN has been in contact with since negotiations began.

If Fury vs. Joshua takes place, and it remains a big if, British fans will miss out on the most prominent UK heavyweight fight in years.

A shocking fact.

There’s an upside, though. As a crowd is not yet allowed due to the pandemic measures, it’s hoped a second installment of the saga will take place in Cardiff or at Wembley later in the year.

But it still seems unfathomable to take such a massive UK clash outside of their territory. A firm head-scratcher.

It might be a better scenario for Fury to finish off his trilogy with Deontay Wilder. Meanwhile, Joshua could take care of his mandatory in Oleksandr Usyk.

Even that’s preferable to taking the fight out of UK jurisdiction.

Maybe even stage both bouts on the same night on either side of the Atlantic. Wouldn’t that be a nice gesture to the paying public? – If a miracle in itself.

[maverick23]

WBN go well over the top. Everyone associated with the fight is indicating the fight will be overseas and namely in the Middle East.

Can’t blame that at all given there’s no way we’d be able to fill Wembley for it as things stand.

[margaret thatcher]

it's kinda hilarious, i've seen non brits who are gonna watch from their basement express outrage that it wont be in the uk

[Ruthless-RKO]

it's kinda hilarious, i've seen non brits who are gonna watch from their basement express outrage that it wont be in the uk

Yeh. They want the fight in the UK, but are never gonna be tickets or the PPV.

[DrDuke]

Doesn't really matter where, just make it next.

[Oiky]

The fight is the main thing, forget the details that promoters & managers need to be the ones worrying about & let's just hope we see it asap

[mickey1975]

I can’t see it happening.

[margaret thatcher]

ya fury dont want no part of it

[mickey1975]

ya fury dont want no part of it

Both want it. Eddie won’t like being with the big boys now. Arum knows the fights worth.

[maverick23]

ya fury dont want no part of it

Both want it. Eddie won’t like being with the big boys now. Arum knows the fights worth.

So you think Eddie will stop the fight happening?!

The fight’s worth what they can get for it and I’d be surprised if Arum’s had a rights fee as high as for the AJ/Ruiz rematch.

Given it’s a 50/50 split it’s in everyone’s best interests to get as much money as possible - something both Eddie and Bob are good at.

[Oiky]

Tyson won't shy from it at all

[maverick23]

Tyson won't shy from it at all

Neither will. They both want it and it’s the only fight the public want at heavyweight.

[Oiky]

Tyson won't shy from it at all

Neither will. They both want it and it’s the only fight the public want at heavyweight.

I agree.
Just thought the Tyson doesn't want no part of it comment up above was ridiculous

[Ruthless-RKO]

Oleksandr Usyk has NOT agreed to step aside to allow Anthony Joshua vs Tyson Fury

Oleksandr Usyk is WBO mandatory and isn't giving up his shot

Oleksandr Usyk has NOT agreed to step aside and allow Anthony Joshua to fight rival Tyson Fury for the undisputed heavyweight championship next.

History-making cruiserweight champion Oleksandr Usyk (18-0, 13 KOs) 'has NOT given his consent' for Anthony Joshua (24-1, 22 KOs) to fight Tyson Fury (30-0-1, 21 KOs) next as the Ukrainian's promoter insists he is ready for his title shot, putting further pressure on AJ to vacate his WBO title to set up all-British super fight

WBA, IBF, WBO and IBO champion Joshua and WBC belt holder Fury are currently in the midst of discussions for a super fight this year, in a clash that would be one of the biggest in the history of boxing, especially in the UK.

However, the biggest spanner in the works for Londoner Joshua and his promoter Eddie Hearn is the Ukrainian challenger Usyk, who is the mandatory challenger for AJ's WBO belt.

33-year-old Usyk beat in-form Londoner Dereck Chisora (32-10, 23 KOs) on Halloween night last year to earn his chance to fight for the world heavyweight belt, after he vacated all of the cruiserweight titles as the undisputed champion and moved up in weight. He has now won both his fights at heavyweight.

His mandatory status means fellow Olympic gold medallist Joshua will either have to fight Kiev's Usyk first or vacate the WBO title in order to secure an all-British showdown with British rival Fury

However, Usyk's promoter Alexander Krassyuk said that his fighter has no intention of stepping aside and and is ready to fight for the title shot he's earned.

He told Sky Sports: 'According to now the deadline is more for Fury and AJ not for Usyk.

'There were talks about an interim title or the AJ vs Fury winner relinquishing the WBO title the next day [after they fight].

'But as for today Usyk is the WBO mandatory and never gave his consent for the [Joshua vs Fury] bout to happen without him.

'Usyk is in good conditions now, he successfully recovered from his last fight and looks forward to fight challenge the title this spring.

'A non-title fight has never been under discussion and I really hope it will never be.'

Despite this, 31-year-old Joshua remains optimistic of finalising a deal with Fury and getting the opportunity to become the first undisputed heavyweight champion since Lennox Lewis in the early 2000s.

He recently said: 'I promise you, conversations and face-to-face meetings are happening with representations of my team and Tyson Fury's team.'

Should they come to an agreement, Joshua and Fury will sign on a two-fight deal, meaning there will be a rematch regardless of the result in their first bout.

The whereabouts of the fight, being earmarked for June 2021, is still yet to be determined with the reality of allowing a sellout crowd at an arena in the UK anytime soon looking highly unlikely.

Eddie Hearn explained that due to the nature of how big the fight will be for both boxers, their teams are looking to maximise the revenue which could lead to the rivalry being settled abroad.

'Both camps have a responsibility to maximise the revenue for their biggest fight - this is the pinnacle of their careers, the biggest moment, nothing will ever beat it,' Joshua's promoter Eddie Hearn recently told Sky Sports.

'At the same time, we all recognise this is two Brits fighting for the undisputed championship of the world. If there is a way to do it in the UK? Fantastic.'

[Ruthless-RKO]

Anthony Joshua vs Tyson Fury location secured with both fighters set to earn ‘close to $100million’, reveals promoter Bob Arum

The location for Anthony Joshua vs Tyson Fury has now been chosen, according to Bob Arum.

Fury’s co-promoter declined to reveal the specific country at this stage, but did confirm a sizeable step has now been taken towards finalising the biggest fight in British boxing history.

The coronavirus pandemic has put paid to any lingering possibility of the bout happening at home, but in reality an overseas location was always the plan.

AJ’s promoter Eddie Hearn previously named Singapore, Dubai, Qatar, America and China as possible options, though Saudi Arabia was marked as the favourite to host Joshua vs Fury.

Arum told Barbershop Conversations: “We have a location, that’s true.

“We have a location and, as far as the date is confirmed, we haven’t zeroed in on a date.

“It could be as late as June because it would give more time to solve the coronavirus problem. By June, most people will be vaccinated, so it’s possible.

“And then we would do the fight, pay-per-view in the UK and pay-per-view early evening in the United States.”

An early evening US time would suggest a prime time evening start in the UK – identical to the situation when AJ fought Andy Ruiz Jr in Saudi Arabia.

Regarding the financials, Arum added: “The Joshua vs Fury fight will earn each of the guys close to $100million. Each of the guys.

“It is the biggest fight in history in the UK, not even close.

“Around the world it is the biggest fight that people wanna see.”

Talks are progressing well behind the scenes as representatives for the heavyweight champions work to try and finalise a deal for them to meet this summer.

As things stand, a fight between Joshua and Fury is not yet a done deal, but appears to be edging ever closer.

The pair agreed financial terms to fight last year and AJ came over his final hurdle with a ninth-round knockout of Kubrat Pulev.

Now, Fury must resolve his ongoing legal situation with Deontay Wilder over their rematch contract in order to completely clear the pathway for a showdown with Joshua in 2021.

Regarding that legal situation, Arum updated: “Over Christmas and New Year there was mediation, maybe the mediator will be able to solve the situation.

“But we’ve got a real problem because Tyson Fury has said to me and to the mediator that not ever would he ever fight Wilder after what Wilder said.

“He regards it as a slur not only to him, but against the Gypsy nation…

“I don’t wanna get into legalities, but the idea of anybody stopping the Fury vs Joshua fight just can’t happen.”

[Ruthless-RKO]

Tyson Fury vs. AJ: Judges, poster names, ring walk, belt issues raised

Tyson Fury and Anthony Joshua are so confident in a final deal that their respective promoters are ready to discuss the finer points.

An undisputed heavyweight title battle has been deep in talks since December as both sides attempt to give British fans the encounter they crave.

Fury, the WBC champion, is set to throw his belt in the air alongside Joshua’s WBO, IBF, and WBA versions.

US handler Bob Arum is happy with the way negotiations are opening up. So much so, the American has raised the smaller details.

“I think we’ll sort through any issues and arrive at a conclusion, which is the fight that everybody wants,” Arum told Sky Sports.

“There are a lot of issues when you do a fight, as the judges. If we do it in the UK, I don’t think you have a problem with judges and officials, even if they are all Brits.

“But if the fight is in another place, then you have to work out how the officials will be assigned and so forth.”

As Fury vs. Joshua, indeed, the first fight – is not likely to happen in the UK, becoming a moot point anyway.

Saudi Arabia is the favored venue as big-money business people are ready to pay megabucks to stage the fight.

Without that matter ongoing, Arum can look at the other possible stumbling blocks. Many of which seem irrelevant to fans.

“Then you have the usual problems. Number one, what is the fight going to be called – is it Fury-Joshua, Joshua-Fury?

“Secondly, who is going to walk first, and who gets announced first?

“But those things, reasonable people work out. I don’t look at them as being economic issues.”

TYSON FURY vs AJ TITLES

For his part, Hearn is concerned with making sure all the championship titles remain on the line.

He said: “Firstly, I will do everything I can to keep the belts on the line. Because for me, that is the glory.

“Standing in the ring, seeing AJ covered in every bit of silverware you can win in boxing.”

[CaptainSpacerod]

Surely the longer negotiations drag on the more likely Tyson will need a tune up fight. He won’t want to go into the biggest fight in British history having not fought for over a year will he ?

[Ruthless-RKO]

Surely the longer negotiations drag on the more likely Tyson will need a tune up fight. He won’t want to go into the biggest fight in British history having not fought for over a year will he ?

Yeh, he'll need to get out.. He should have just taken a pay cut and fought Kabayel. He's never gonna lose that. Whether it be December last year or even now..

He needs to get out.

[CaptainSpacerod]

Surely the longer negotiations drag on the more likely Tyson will need a tune up fight. He won’t want to go into the biggest fight in British history having not fought for over a year will he ?

Yeh, he'll need to get out.. He should have just taken a pay cut and fought Kabayel. He's never gonna lose that. Whether it be December last year or even now..

He needs to get out.

The trouble is Eddie will pressure him not to jeopardise a £200m super fight by risking defeat or a bad cut in a meaningless keep busy fight. Like you say he should’ve fought in Dec and everything would have aligned nicely with AJ fighting then too.

[Jimmy2020]

Huge money, isn't it? The fight doesn't excite me tbh. Been spoilt over the years that this huge event for most is a non-event for me. I think the boxing bug has gone.

[MasterG]

Surely the longer negotiations drag on the more likely Tyson will need a tune up fight. He won’t want to go into the biggest fight in British history having not fought for over a year will he ?

Would Fury be bothered about a tune up? £70 million fight? I dont get the impression from Fury that he a hungry boxer wanting glory. I dont think he would give a bugger either way.

[Jimmy2020]

Surely the longer negotiations drag on the more likely Tyson will need a tune up fight. He won’t want to go into the biggest fight in British history having not fought for over a year will he ?

Would Fury be bothered about a tune up? £70 million fight? I dont get the impression from Fury that he a hungry boxer wanting glory. I dont think he would give a bugger either way.

They both know it is ridiculously easy money and they won't want anything to jeopardise the fight(s). Fury is supremely confident. Everyone I have ever spoken to who knows him and has been around him in gyms, pre-fight, etc, says he's so relaxed compare to almost any other fighter they've known. He knows he's good and he knows that working for a living is a lot harder.

[Ruthless-RKO]