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Anthony Joshua and Tyson Fury – who between them hold all of heavyweight boxing’s international titles – have received offers from ‘foreign territories’ to host an undisputed heavyweight title fight.
This was revealed by Joshua’s promoter, Eddie Hearn who also added that “negotiations can’t take place” yet because the two fighters are contractually obliged to face different boxers in mandatory title defences.
Joshua is set to defend his IBF, WBA and WBO belts against 38-year-old Bulgarian, Kubrat Pulev while American, Deontay Wilder has a third fight against Fury after failing to win against the Mancunian in his first two attempts.
“Negotiations aren’t underway,” Joshua’s promoter Hearn explained to The Boxing Show on Sky Sports.
“We have a contract to fight Pulev next. Fury has a contract to fight Wilder next.
“There is keenness from our side and Fury’s side to go straight into [a fight between them].
“But we are both under contract for different fights. “No negotiations have taken place. Negotiations can’t take place until we know if Wilder will step aside, and if Pulev will step aside,” he said.
Hearn also revealed that Saudi Arabia and two other foreign nations have expressed their interest in hosting a Joshua vs Fury fight.
“We have had enquiries from territories asking to stage that fight,” Hearn said.
“Ourselves and [Fury’s management] MTK Global have been in discussions to look at those offers, and when this fight might take place.
“We were looking to fight in June, Fury-Wilder in July, and we all planned to make this fight in December. Now, could we go straight into the December fight? Will we have a live audience in December?
“As it stands now Joshua’s next fight is Pulev and Fury’s next fight is Wilder. Could a deal be struck for them to step aside? Absolutely.
“Would we be willing to entertain it? Absolutely.
“Right now the focus is on the contracts we have signed, and the winners to fight in spring 2021.”
The British Boxing Board of Control are “hopeful” that the sport can resume in July but without fans in attendance, with a maximum of five fights per event and with a pre-tournament medical form, COVID-19 testing and pre-tournament quarantine.
“We don’t know which territory will be allowed to implement a live audience,” Hearn said.
“For example New Zealand has zero [coronavirus] cases and Australia very few. Certain countries can start up sooner than others.
“We would love to bring AJ-Fury to the UK but in December that doesn’t look like a possibility.
“We’re talking, we’re moving in the right direction, we’ve all got the same mindset to create the biggest fight in boxing history between two British world champions for the undisputed heavyweight championship.
“You will get this fight. It’s just a case of when and where,” he concluded.
