JOSHUA SIGNS DEAL TO FIGHT FURY

Reporter : NTIENYONG UDOH

Anthony Joshua and Tyson Fury’s world heavyweight title showdown has moved a step closer with Joshua’s promoter, Eddie Hearn, saying a two-fight deal has been signed.

The winner of the all-British bout will become the undisputed heavyweight champion.

However, the locations and dates are yet to be confirmed.

Joshua, 31, holds the WBA, WBO and IBF belts, while Fury, 32, has the WBC title.

The fight between Joshua and Fury will see all four belts contested in a heavyweight bout for the first time.

The last undisputed heavyweight champion was Britain’s Lennox Lewis from 1999 to 2000, before a boxer had to also hold the WBO belt to be recognised as undisputed champion.

Joshua has a record of 24 wins and one defeat from 25 professional bouts.

He lost his three world titles in a shock defeat by Andy Ruiz Jr in June 2019 before regaining them in a rematch in December that year.

He defended his titles by knocking out mandatory challenger, Kubrat Pulev, at Wembley Arena in December.

Fury is unbeaten in his 31 professional fights, having survived two knockdowns to draw with American Deontay Wilder in 2018 before taking the WBC title by winning their rematch in February 2020, the last time Fury fought