Eddie Hearn, the promoter of the Anthony Joshua and Tyson Fury historic twin bouts, has revealed that the boxers have agreed on the financial terms of their two-fight deal.
The two heavyweight champions have reportedly agreed on the commercials of the twin bouts to determine an undisputed world heavyweight champion. The negotiations, which began early last month, have now concluded with Joshua and Fury agreeing on the basic terms for the two fights.
Joshua holds the WBA, IBF, WBO, and IBO belts and Fury is the WBC champion. The winner of the two rounds will own up all the titles as the undisputed world heavyweight professional champion boxer.
“It’s fair to say (Joshua and Fury) are in agreement regarding the financial terms of the fight,” promoter Hearn has told Sky Sports News. “We’re making great progress. There is still a lot to overcome. We are looking at venues and dates.
“(There’s) a lot to overcome in the meantime. We’re moving in the right direction. I’m confident that both guys have given their blessing for the fight to go ahead. The point of Fury, Joshua and the teams agreeing to the structure of the deal? The first fight could happen next summer. It will be 2021.
“The main positive news is that Joshua and Fury have agreed to a two-fight deal, in essence. The most difficult part of any deal is the financial element. I believe we’re in a great place where both guys have agreed to what that should be.”
Hearn has tough also confessed that the boxers and the promoter will still have some distance to cover before signing on the dotted lines. “We have not signed contracts because there are still things to be worked out,” he said.
“We’re pushing towards a place where they can be drafted, for 2021. Both guys are in agreement. The structure of the deal has been put forward, and agreed to by both parties.
“There is a model in place that both parties are happy with. It’s the biggest fight ever in British boxing. It doesn’t get bigger, and there will never be a bigger fight in our generation. Two guys, very different, who fight differently, have experienced different things and have come back from adversity.”
Hearn has also hinted that the bouts are likely to happen in the UK, but there hasn’t been any agreement on the venue. “There are discussions with various sites. From a common-sense point of view and without knowing how a deal works, everyone will say Britain is the place to hold the fight. But it is the world heavyweight championship – there will be all sorts of offers from across the world, and there have been already.
“The venue is another obstacle to overcome.”
The match also gets more significance as Fury had hinted to hang his gloves after the bout.