ANTHONY JOSHUA vs Tyson Fury is a £200million super-fight that could land at Wembley in September.
Saudi boxing powerbroker Turki Alalshikh has bankrolled a brilliant resurgence of the sport, funding and demanding recent bouts between AJ, Fury, Francis Ngannou, Deontay Wilder and Joseph Parker.
ReutersAnthony Joshua could fight Tyson Fury in September[/caption]
Fury first faces a fight against Oleksandr UsykReuters
AlamyEddie Hearn revealed both fighters could pocket more than £100million from the bout[/caption]
His influence and finances have blown apart the usual excuses for mega-bouts not being made – like broadcast and promotional rights and rows – and allowed Riyadh to host a gluttony of elite pugilism.
Fury and Oleksandr Usyk will decide the first undisputed heavyweight ruler in 25 years on May 18 – with a rematch pencilled in.
And Dymity Bivol and Artur Beterbiev will battle for the same four-belt honour at light-heavy on June 1.
But once summer hits the desert, SunSport understands Alalshikh and the events group Sela – which sponsors Newcastle – will branch out into the UK and that super fight would be a sensational entrance.
And Joshua promoter Eddie Hearn has explained how his man could jump the queue and floor plans for the rerun.
Matchroom boss Hearn told Piers Morgan: “I never thought I would be OK saying I am not the most powerful man in boxing but I am not, Turki Alalshikh is.
“He is the biggest fight fan I have ever met and all he wants is the biggest fights and the biggest moments.
“Fury and Usyk have a two-fight deal.
Will AJ vs Fury actually happen?
SunSport boxing correspondent Wally Downes Jr answers the big questions around Anthony Joshua and Tyson Fury finally facing each other…
Could we finally see Fury vs AJ this year?
Simply: Yes.
Before the Saudi takeover of boxing – spearheaded by Turki Alalshikh, would we have seen Fury vs Francis Ngannou, AJ vs Ngannou, Deontay Wilder vs Joseph Parker, Frank Warren and Eddie Hearn working together and shaking hands for photos?
Simply: No.
The rules, rankings, sanctioning bodies and broadcast and promotional disputes are all irrelevant when this much money is thrown at prize fighting.
How would it work?
It feels like the winner of Fury vs Usyk on May 18 will fight AJ as soon after as possible.
There is a rematch clause in the current deal for Britain’s WBC champ and Ukraine’s WBA, IBF and WBO king to meet and decide the first undisputed ruler for 25 years.
But it seems certain the belts will fragment afterwards – with a string of mandatory challengers due their crack at the four separate belts – so the clamour for AJ vs the winner might be bigger than the demand for a rerun for fewer belts.
Where would it happen?
It feels like every major fight is now going to happen in Saudi Arabia.
But don’t rule out a potential Fury vs Ngannou clash taking place at Wembley stadium.
It seems like the Saudis are keen to eventually host shows in the UK and that fight, at the home of football, would be some debut.
If Usyk topples the Gypsy King then the hype for him to face AJ for a third time will be far less intense.
Why this time?
It feels like we have twice come close to seeing the clash but there were simply too many hurdles and disputes in the way – similar to the way AJ vs Wilder still hasn’t happened.
But with Alalshikh now making Hearn’s Matchroom and Warren’s Queensberry play nice and letting Sky Sports, TNT and DAZN share the shows, there is far less to fight over in the boardroom and loads on to battle for in the ring.
And if Fury beats Usyk and rightfully demands a huge percentage of an overdue Joshua meeting, then the Saudi’s have the cash and the clout to hand him 99 per cent of the pie – to massage his ego and bank balance – and hand AJ as much extra dough as needed to keep everyone sweet.
Who wins?
If Fury sets up an AJ clash by beating Oleksandr Usyk – the mathematics and stats make it clear only a maniac would back Joshua to triumph in the all-English clash.
Usyk dominated AJ over two one-sided fights, on foreign soil.
The Watford man has enjoyed a spike in form and respect since linking up with new trainer Ben Davison but a 20st 6ft 9in Fury – who has just slayed the gap-toothed southpaw – would be almost invincible.
But in any major football derby or cup final the formbook is often aimed out of the window. And perhaps a rejuvenated hungry AJ could be too much for an undisputed and fulfilled Fury to handle.
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“But if Tyson Fury beats Oleksandr Usyk in the first fight, the whole world is going to say ‘please don’t do the second fight’.
During the 18 infuriating months Fury and Usyk’s teams thrashed out a two-fight deal – long even before the two postponements – the rematch and the finances around a potential rerun were a nagging issue.
But Alalshikh’s chequebook and influence is laying waste to all of the usual hurdles and stumbling blocks and – as Hearn says – a pesky rematch clause would pose no threat to a record-breaking plan.
When asked what the Fury vs AJ fight will finally be worth – after two failed attempts to negotiate it – Hearn said: “It’s worth north of £100m for each guy.
“It’s the richest fight ever, the biggest fight ever.
“When you talk about the Rumble in the Jungle and you talk about Thrilla in Manilla, nothing will come close to Joshua against Fury.
“Two of the biggest heavyweights in the history of the sport, in the biggest moment for the sport that anyone can remember.
“Not just a generational fight, but a fight across the entire history of the sport, since the Queensberry rules were introduced.”
To watch the full debate, go to the Piers Morgan Uncensored channel on YouTube – www.youtube.com/piersmorganuncensored
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