Anthony Joshua vs Tyson Fury: It could happen next, says Eddie Hearn
‘We have to make this fight happen’ – Hearn sets sights on Joshua-Fury showdown
Anthony Joshua could face Tyson Fury next in an undisputed clash rather than taking on IBF mandatory Kubrat Pulev, according to Eddie Hearn.
'AJ', the unified heavyweight champion, is expected to take on Pulev on June 20 at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium as it stands.
However, that could soon change with Premier League fixtures expected to continue through the summer because of the coronavirus epidemic.
Hearn has confirmed July 25 is the back-up date for the pair after speaking to Tottenham's Daniel Levy about the situation. In a twist, the Matchroom mogul has now flirted with the tempation of Joshua-Fury being the priority.
"Well I think, all of a sudden, does the Joshua-Fury fight start taking priority, maybe over a Pulev fight, if the Pulev fight extends beyond the summer. There's so much that could happen right now," Hearn said.
"I mean anything is possible, but contractually Deontay Wilder is going to want his fight next, whether that's in July or whether there's a force majeure that takes that to October, November wherever.
"Right now, for us, we're fighting Kubrat Pulev, June 20, and it could be July 25, but everything is uncertain at the moment, whilst the country and the world tries to contain this pandemic."
Could it happen next?
With the current circumstances, UK fans would be lifted by the news of the two heavyweight titans clashing this summer at Wembley Stadium.
By the time society resumes back to normal, we may even need a new stadium built because 90,000 won't be big enough.
Joshua - the Olympic gold-medalist and youngest two-time heavyweight world champion - against Fury, the undefeated WBC and lineal champion who beat Wladimir Klitschko and Deontay Wilder in their backyards. It's the fight we all want.
Both men would love the fight next but Joshua must fight Pulev next if he wants to keep his IBF title while Fury is contractually obliged to face the 'Bronze Bomber' in a third contest this summer.
For any chance of this fight happening for the undisputed status, both Wilder and Pulev would have to agree to move aside for history in the making.
If they could pull it off, Frank Warren believes it would be the biggest UK national event since England won the 1996 Fifa World Cup. Not only would it bring it huge revenue, it would also see the first British unification showdown with all four major world titles on the line.
