’Anthony Joshua will face Tyson Fury at start of 2021 or 2020 if Wilder withdraws - Anthony Joshua's management says

Anthony Joshua’s management has said that the Heavyweight boxing champion could fight WBC Heavyweight Champion, Tyson Fury, at the start of 2021 or even end of 2020 if Wilder withdraws from his fight with Fury as fans will not want to see preparatory or ‘tune up’ fights when the COVID-19 pandemic is over.

Barry Hearn who owns MatchRoom boxing, the Agency that manages Joshua, said he knows Tyson and Joshua would be in favor of fighting each other as soon as possible as both fighters have a lot to gain from the fight.

According to Hearn, he will do all he can to ensure the all-British undisputed decider occurs between Joshua and Fury immediately the pandemic ends..

WBA, IBF and WBO champion Joshua has been ordered to fight Kubrat Pulev next while Fury, the WBC, Ring Magazine and Lineal Champion, is contractually tied into a third fight with Deontay Wilder, who is complaining of a bicep injury. But Pulev and Wilder could step aside and withdraw if they are paid off.

71-year-old Barry Hearn, who is father to the more popular boxing promoter Eddie Hearn, told Betfred: “Anthony Joshua is probably the easiest boxer I have ever worked with, he literally will fight anybody and he is very keen on unifying the titles and Tyson has the missing belt.

“Tyson is not afraid of anyone, at the same time, and he knows if he beats Joshua he will be an even bigger global figure.

“The good news about this pile-up of global sport events is that there will be competition for airtime when sport returns and people will not pay for tick-over contests.

“I think we have an excellent chance of seeing that fight, I would say 50-50 it is this year and, if it is not this year, then it’s 95-5 for early 2021.”

He added: “I am always confident because it is a bg fight and the demand for it is huge but there are complications, as there always are.

“Does Wilder even fight Fury again? I am hearing that he has a slight injury and cannot train until May, does that bring a delay?

“There is a chance, hypothetically if the sport comes back in September and Wilder isn’t ready or doesn’t want the fight, then I think Josh would drop Pulev and go for Fury, because that is the fight he wants more than anything else.”

Hearn said: “Fury surprised me against Wilder but he always surprises me because I usually look at him and think Joshua beats him comfortably. But then Fury just seems to bring out the unexpected.

“I expected Wilder to connect but I don’t think he is technically good at all, he can just punch and that is always an equaliser.
“But Tyson boxed so well and exposed Wilder so much that he bashed him up and took away his desire.

“If all you have is a punch and that is taken away from you, then you cannot win the fight.

“I thought Tyson boxed out of his skin and good luck to the boy.”