Promoter Eddie Hearn says Anthony Joshua will face Tyson Fury in 2021 regardless of whether belts are at stake, but insists the intention remains to make the fight for the undisputed Heavyweight championship.
Joshua’s promoter, Hearn held discussions with Fury’s co-promoter, Bob Arum after Joshua dispatched IBF mandatory challenger Kubrat Pulev in nine rounds, to defend his WBA ‘Super’, IBF, WBO and IBO world titles on Saturday.
WBC champion, Fury is awaiting news on a potential third fight with Deontay Wilder, after the American looked to enforce a trilogy through mediation, with the Brit’s team insisting the timeframe for a third fight has passed.
A further obstacle remains the situation with WBO mandatory challenger, Oleksandr Usyk, who is due a shot at Joshua and would have to either step aside or the Brit may be forced to vacate the crown. However, Hearn has warned that the pair could drop all of their belts to secure a showdown next year.
“We have a fight on our hands, and sorry to the governing bodies, that eclipses all belts,” Hearn said.
“We’ve just got to be a bit careful because you may be on the verge of saying: “Let’s just get rid of politics right now. Let’s just drop all the belts because if we lose one belt, we might as well lose them all.
“You’ve got the biggest fight in world boxing, You are paying each governing body hundreds of thousands of dollars. Now you have got another guy (Usyk) who probably wants seven figures to step aside.
“We have just got to be careful because ultimately the aim of this fight has always been to be for the undisputed championship.”
@anthonyfjoshua looked sensational against @KubratPulev. As to the @WorldBoxingOrg belt, @EddieHearn knows the meaning of commitment; the ball is in Hearn’s court. @usykaa @AKrassyuk @KlimasBoxing @Tyson_Fury @DanRafael1 @boxingscene @SteveKim323 @pugboxing @JakeNDaBox
— Paco Valcárcel, Esq. (@PacoValcarcel) December 13, 2020
Hearn says he has every intention of the fight being made with all world title belts on the line and insists it will be made in 2021, with a date in May reportedly targeted.
“We will do whatever we can to make sure that every belt in boxing is on the line in the Tyson Fury fight,” Hearn added.
“What we won’t be is held to ransom and we won’t let politics get involved in a fight that boxing needs.
“2021 needs to bring us Joshua against Fury. Belts or no belts you will see Fury against Joshua, but we hope that everyone is sensible, everyone uses common sense and that great fight can be for the undisputed championship of the world.”
Joshua and Fury have already agreed to a two-fight deal, with a reported 50-50 split in the first bout and 60-40 in favour of the winner in the rematch.
Hearn said on Monday that in terms of the deal there is not too much left to decide, other than the site and broadcast partners.
“We are starting now to look at the contracts, to draft the contracts,” Hearn said on a ZOOM media conference call on Monday.
“There’s not really a lot to agree to be honest with you.
“Obviously we know the split is already agreed, really we’ve got to look at where it’s going to take place and iron out a few contractual issues on the TV partners and I think we’re there.
“I’m very confident we’re going to get it made.”
