Boxing

Anthony Joshua 'could fight on the SAME NIGHT as Fury-Uysk

Anthony Joshua ‘could return to the ring on the SAME NIGHT as Tyson Fury goes toe-to-toe with Oleksandr Uysk’… as negotiations continue to set up Deontay Wilder battle

  • Tyson Fury and Oleksandr Usyk signed contracts to set up their undisputed bout
  • Now, AJ has been tipped by his promoter to fight Deontay Wilder on the night 
  • Uysk and Fury are yet to decide a date as the Gypsy King prepares for Ngannou 

Eddie Hearn has floated the idea that Anthony Joshua could fight on the same night as Tyson Fury and Oleksandr Uysk’s four-belt unification clash. 

The two heavyweights signed contracts to set up the undisputed championship fight last week, and the fight will take place in Saudi Arabia. 

The hotly anticipated clash will come hot on the heels of Fury’s fight with former UFC heavyweight champion Francis Ngannou in October, with reports hinting that the date could be either December 23, or January 2024.  

Boxing fans could find themselves treated between another high-profile bout on the night, with the rescheduled meeting of Conor Benn and Chris Eubank Jr also tipped to be on that same night.

Eubank and Benn were due to meet in 2022 before Benn failed two drugs tests ahead of the meeting. 

Anthony Joshua could return to the ring before facing off with Deontay Wilder – and on the same night as Fury-Uysk

Eddie Hearn hinted at the potential scheduling clash as he talked up his fighter’s prospects about meeting the Bronze Bomber

Tyson Fury (pictured) has agreed contracts with Oleksandr Uysk for an undisputed heavyweight championship fight in Saudi Arabia

The 26-year-old was cleared by UKAD over the two positive VADA tests this July. 

But as per the Sun, Hearn suggested that the night could also feature a fight for Joshua, as negotiations over when AJ will face American rival Deontay Wilder continue. 

‘It could go on December 23, maybe even as well.

‘December 2nd is a fantastic card that we’re announcing on Saturday night for Britain and 23rd is our date for Benn-Eubank.

‘And I truly believe that fight will get made for that date.’

Facing a clash between Benn-Eubank and Fury-Uysk, Hearn demurred as to what could happen if the latter also opted for the late-December night. 

Look if we get the Eubank fight made, we will go December 23rd. Because we will have to announce that in the next two weeks.

‘I don’t know whether they’re going to go December 23rd, maybe there’s some conversations with them before we announce our fight.

‘But that’s our date and whilst the other fight is not announced there’s a good chance we’ll go straight up and announce.

‘But we’ll have to see. Obviously, we don’t want to go on the same night, it doesn’t make sense for either fight. But we’ll see.’ 

Chris Eubank Jr (left) and Conor Benn (middle) are also due to fight on December 23 in their much-delayed clash

On the subject of Joshua facing off with Wilder, which Hearn previously talked up as an opportunity for the British fighter to ‘knock out’ the Bronze Bomber, the promoter suggested the venue could either be ‘Vegas or Wembley’. 

‘I think both guys actually genuinely want the fight and when you get fights like Fury-Usyk made it does give everybody a little nudge to say, ‘Let’s make ours now,” Hearn shared, shedding light on ongoing discussions with Wilder’s promoter Shelly Finkel. 

‘And there’s a definite feeling from their team and ours to get that fight over the line.’

Joshua has been unbeaten in 2023, recording wins against Jermaine Franklin and Robert Helenius on home soil at The 02 Arena. 

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