Jonathan Bead
Tyson Fury vs Anthony Joshua Could Finally Happen, Says Top Rank President
The long-awaited clash between Tyson Fury and Anthony Joshua is the “biggest heavyweight match in the world”, according to Top Rank President Todd DuBoef, who believes the fight could finally happen this year.
Joshua returns to the ring against Jermaine Franklin on Saturday night at The O2 in London, hoping to regain his title as the world’s best heavyweight.
DuBoef, who has a leading role in Fury’s US promotional team, would welcome a blockbuster British battle in 2023 but believes it has the potential to happen sooner.
“Both of them have great brands, huge fanbases, and fortunately both of them come from the UK, so it’s wonderful that your country has been able to produce these incredible prizefighters,” said DuBoef.
The future plans for Fury, the reigning WBC and Ring magazine heavyweight champion, remain unclear after talks for an undisputed world title fight against Oleksandr Usyk collapsed this month.
“The frustration is for all of us,” added DuBoef. “All of us are frustrated, right? And I think timing has been an issue with trying to make this fight happen. But there was a timeline that was set up, and it just got ahead of everybody and it became very tight.”
DuBoef admits everyone is frustrated the bout between Fury and Oleksandr Usyk is no longer happening
DuBoef insists Fury could still face Usyk and Joshua within the next nine months.
“That’s the way we move,” he said. “We move with immediacy, and we move trying to figure out and get rationality to a situation. I think we’ve always wanted this fight for Fury and Joshua, and we’ve wanted to see Fury and Usyk, and Tyson has wanted that, and the Warrens, and we’ve worked hard in getting this done.”
“I would love to see, and you’ve just laid out a great 2023 for the Fury side, if we could do Usyk and Joshua this year, it would be fantastic.”
GIPHY App Key not set. Please check settings