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Eddie Hearn, promoter for IBF, IBO, WBA, WBO heavyweight champion Anthony Joshua, is gaining confidence that a deal will be finalized for a full division unification with WBC champion Tyson Fury.
Hearn is currently in serious discussions with Fury’s co-promoters, Bob Arum of Top Rank and Frank Warren of Queensberry Promotions.
The two sides are hoping to stage the first contest in May or June – with a rematch to follow before the end of the year.
“We’re close. Backwards and forwards with contracts at the moment. Things have been progressing really well over the last week. I really believe you will see that fight May-June, everyone’s working well in the right direction,” Hearn told Sirius XM.
Fury was in action back in February, when he stopped Deontay Wilder in seven rounds to capture the WBC title at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas.
Joshua was back in the ring earlier this month in London, when he knocked out IBF mandatory challenger Kubrat Pulev in nine rounds.
Fury is now aggressively pushing to have the fight take place in 2021.
“Next year, the fight has to happen. He’s come over his final hurdle last week against Pulev. And now we’re both free to make this fight. I’m willing to do the fight. He was asked the question, ‘Do you want to fight Tyson Fury?’ very plain and simple, and he never answered the question,” Fury told the Jonathan Ross Show.
“It was a simple yes or no answer wasn’t it? Then they said, ‘Do you think you’re the best heavyweight in the world? and he went [holds hands up]. Didn’t answer the question. Ask me, do you want to fight Anthony Joshua? Yes.”
Only two hurdles are in the way.
Oleksandr Usyk, as the WBO’s mandatory challenger, is due to face Joshua. That situation could easily be solved with a step-aside deal or Joshua deciding to vacate that singular belt.
On Fury’s end, Wilder has initiated a legal action to enforce an immediate rematch clause. Arum expects to prevail, confident that Wilder’s legal right to a rematch has expired.