Matchroom promoter, Eddie Hearn, has reignited hopes of the ‘Battle of Britain’ finally taking place, despite Tyson Fury not having the same opinion.
After prolonged talks between Fury and Oleksandr Usyk for the undisputed crown, a deal doesn’t look as certain as it once did, and Hearn says ‘AJ’ is ready to step in if that fight doesn’t materialise.
Fury and Joshua have twice failed to agree a deal for what would arguably be the biggest fight in the history of British boxing. Fans got their hopes up late last year only for negotiations to collapse and Fury deciding to take on Derek Chisora instead.
Although the fight is seemingly dead in the water, this week Hearn has made claims that Joshua would make a deal now for a fight with Fury in the summer.
In an interview with ID Boxing, Hearn explained that talks shouldn’t take long as the terms should be the same as agreed last year.
“The same terms that we agreed before, we accepted the terms. Nothing has changed, but he boxed Derek Chisora and AJ hasn’t boxed since, so it will be the same terms that we agreed last time and we will get that fight done. But, if the undisputed fight, for less money, but comes with the undisputed [title] takes priority, we respect that as well.”
“I believe that Fury will probably want a fight before that, if he fights in April, we’ll just agree the fight for July/August, we could do that fight now.”
Whether Fury would be prepared to give Joshua that opportunity is another question, regardless of if there is an undisputed title on the line or not.
It’s one fans will want to see as long as both men are fighting, but it has to be said that this doesn’t seem the most likely of times.