Anthony Joshua reaches in-principle agreement with Tyson Fury to face each other twice

WORLD heavyweight boxing champion Anthony Joshua and his main challenger Tyson Fury have reached an in-principle agreement to meet in two blockbuster fights over the next couples of years to determine who is the undisputed kingpin if the division.

Nigerian-born Joshua, 30, currently holds the World Boxing Association (WBA), World Boxing Organisation (WBO), International Boxing Organisation (IBO) and International Boxing Federation (IBF) titles, while Fury holds the World Boxing Council (WBC) belt. Boxing enthusiasts the world over have been itching for a massive reunification bout but both fighters have contractual  obligations committing them to other fights.

Fury for instance is  obliged to fight against the man he beat to win his belt Deontay Wilder, after he triggered a rematch clause that was in their contract. Joshua on the other hand is due to fight Bulgarian Kubrat Pulev next.

However, Joshua’s promoter Eddie Hearn, has been negotiating with Fury’s camp for several weeks and he said the terms were in place for the head-to-head fight to proceed. Although no contracts have been signed, Mr Hearn expects Joshua to face Fury to determine the undisputed king of the heavyweight scene in 2021.

Mr Hearn said: “We’re making great progress but there is still a lot to overcome. We are looking at venues and dates.

“We’re in a good place and it's fair to say that, in principle, both guys have agreed to two fights. There’s a lot to overcome in the meantime but we’re moving in the right direction and I’m confident that both guys have given their blessings for the fight to go ahead.”

He added that the first bout could happen in the summer of 2021. Joshua, 30, is still on course to face Pulev despite injuring his knee during a recent training run, which led to him wearing a knee brace and crutches during a Black Lives Matter protest over the weekend.