Heavyweight champion Anthony Joshua is set to return to the ring in August for a unifying title fight with Tyson Fury. Boxing promoter Eddie Hearn shared key details regarding the super-fight during an interview with Sky Sports.
"Aug. 7, Aug. 14, I think it's a very bad secret that the fight is happening in Saudi Arabia," Hearn said.
Hearn also explained that he is working with the same team that helped him put together Joshua's second championship bout against Andy Ruiz in 2019. Having previously built a relationship with the business group, Hearn and Joshua appear to be confident that the exact date and venue will be finalized in the coming days.
"It's the same people we did the deal with for Andy Ruiz; that event was spectacular. As partners, they were fantastic as well," Hearn added.
"We're very comfortable. Anthony's comfortable, he knows those people...They delivered on every one of their promises last time. We're ready to go."
The winner of the Joshua-Fury fight will be the unified heavyweight champion, a title that hasn't been held in 20 years. Fury enters the fight after delivering an incredible performance against former heavyweight titlist Deontay Wilder last February. Meanwhile, Joshua is coming off of a knockout win over Kubrat Pulev in December. With his advantages in size and speed, Fury is deemed to be the betting favorite, but Joshua enters the bout as the fresher, more active fighter. Ultimately, boxing veterans like Mike Tyson believe that Fury will emerge as the winner.
“I f------ love Anthony Joshua, but I think Tyson [Fury] is too elusive. He’s not going to be able to hit him,” Tyson said.
“That’s just what I see. If Tyson Fury can get away from Wilder’s fast punches, Joshua might be in trouble.”
Joshua will have an opportunity to prove the former heavyweight titlist wrong when the two meet in three months.
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