Anthony Joshua vs Tyson Fury fight deadline set… with Battle of Britain bout facing race against time to go ahead
ANTHONY JOSHUA and Tyson Fury are facing a fight just to get their Battle of Britain over the line before the deadline.
The British superstar pair and rivals have spent years circling each other with failed negotiations to finally share the ring.
But now their previously feuding promoters Eddie Hearn and Frank Warren have joined forces thanks to Saudi Arabia’s deeps financial pockets.
Fury, 36, lost his WBC belt and undefeated record in May to Oleksandr Usyk, 37, who became the first four-belt heavyweight undisputed champion.
They now rematch back in Riyadh on December 21 while Joshua, 34, challenges Daniel Dubois, 26, for the WBC strap on Saturday.
Victory for AJ and Fury sets them up for a stunning grudge match next year.
But Saudi boxing supremo Turki Alalshikh has maintained even in defeat the former world champs will get an offer to fight.
And Hearn told BBC Sport: “I do think AJ-Fury will happen regardless of whether Fury wins or not, but the size of the fight depends on their next two results.”
Asked whether there is a deadline of 2025, Hearn replied: “Yes, definitely.”
Joshua and Fury guarantee themselves bigger purses if they both prevail victorious.
Joshua vs Dubois fight predictions
THIS weekend Wembley will witness one of the biggest all-British fights of all-time.
But who will emerge victorious under the famous arch? Some of the biggest names in boxing have been having their say…
Oleksandr Usyk: “My favourite is Anthony Joshua but I am very bad at predictions. But I will predict Anthony Joshua.”
Dillian Whyte: “I just think that it’s one of those fights where it is a genuine 50/50 fight in my opinion.”
Joe Joyce: “I was initially edging with Joshua but I don’t know, Dubois is coming on.”
Frazer Clarke: “As heavy-handed as Dubois is and as good a fighter as he’s becoming, I still have to go for Joshua.”
Francis Ngannou: “Even though Joshua lost against Usyk twice and Dubois fought Usyk and almost knocked him down and almost won, I would still give this to Joshua.”
Click here for more fight predictions for Anthony Joshua vs Daniel Dubois
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And Hearn believes it sets up a bout of never-before-seen magnitude.
He added: “If AJ beats Dubois and Fury beats Usyk, you’ve got the biggest fight in the history of the sport ever.
“If one loses and the other wins, it’s still a monster fight.”
Fury and Usyk are also expected to be in attendance for AJ’s title fight against Dubois at Wembley.