The looming heavyweight unification clash between Tyson Fury and Anthony Joshua has the potential to break boxing in the UK. A bout between the rival British champions would surely shatter pay-per-view records and could arguably fill Wembley Stadium several times over.
As has been well documented, a two-fight series between WBC king Fury and WBA Super, WBO and IBF champion Joshua has already been provisionally agreed for 2021, should the duo overcome contracted fights with Deontay Wilder and Kubrat Pulev.
The intention is for the two champions to then lock horns when the shadow of the Covid-19 Pandemic has faded and a full stadium of fans can be in attendance.
Top Rank president Todd duBoef, whose organisation co-promotes Fury alongside Frank Warren, believes the fight has an unparalleled magnitude in the UK.
“It would be the biggest fight in the history of the UK, for sure,” duBoef told Sky Sports. “[But] in order to be a really big fight you have to have a large gate. For example, Floyd Mayweather vs Manny Pacquiao did $70m at the gate.
“I don’t know what the world will look like in Spring 2021. What will the economics look like? We need to see how things change. But it’s as big a fight as anything I’ve seen in the sport.
“There is a gravitation to bring the titles together and that would be Joshua and Fury. Obviously, we would have loved to do that before the end of this year, but for the pandemic.
“I don’t think anybody is wavering from that objective. Both guys have great personalities, they can fight, and it is overdue. Let’s get it done.”