Tyson Fury and Anthony Joshua Agree to Two Fight Heavyweight Unification Deal in 2021
By Robert Brizel, Head Real Combat Media Boxing Correspondent
London, UK (January 17th, 2021)– The World Heavyweight championship unification bouts of the century will take place twice in 2021. According to promoter Eddie Hearn of Matchroom Boxing, World Boxing Council and Ring Magazine World Heavyweight champion Tyson ‘Gypsy King’ Fury, and World Boxing Association, World Boxing Organisation, International Boxing Federation and International Boxing Organization World Heavyweight champion Anthony ‘A. J.’ Joshua will unify their titles and fight each other twice in 2021. Ex-champion Deontay Wilder and ex-Olympian Joy Joyce will have to wait for a chance to fight the winner. Though the deal is not yet signed, and no date is yet set for the bouts, Hearn, Joshua and Fury have all agreed in principle to the details.
Joshua versus Fury megafight number one will be held in the Middle East, perhaps in the United Arab Emirates. The Joshua versus Fury megafight number two will take place in the United Kingdom, maybe at Principality Stadium, the national stadium of Wales, according to Hearn.
Joshua, 24-1 with 22 knockouts, Watford, Hertfordshire, United Kingdom, and Fury, 30-0-1 with 21 knockouts, Wilmslow, Cheshire, United Kingdom, will create an all-British slugfest sure to excite both British, European, and worldwide boxing fans. The resulting pay-per-views, heavyweight title megabouts could have no spectators, could be worth hundreds of millions of dollars each, especially if bout one turns out to be as close and exciting as Fury’s first bout with Wilder, which was a 12 round split draw. Joshua, by virtue of his getting knocked down in his first match with Andy Ruiz Jr., and Fury, who got decked in the twelfth and final round by Wilder, are sure to create a betting bonanza and bookie’s delight in gambling circles. The victory will go to the combatant who trains hardest and wants the win more. The general public is hungry for professional sports, and Joshua versus Fury I and II will put boxing back on the map, even if it is only on television.
Hearn told the Times of London “The deal is done. Really. Without being signed (yet). The financial elements of the deal are done. We’re talking through (negotiating now the details of) the broadcast situation. The only thing really (left to do) now is to paper it (sign the contracts).” Joshua versus Fury will be the most promoted heavyweight extravaganzas to reach pay-per-view since Muhammad Ali versus Joe Frazier at Madison Square Garden.
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