Anthony Joshua’s acceptance to fight Tyson Fury has paved the way for the biggest fight in heavyweight history in Britain.
Tyson Fury called out Anthony Joshua for a fight before considering any challenge with WBO, IBO, IBF title holder Oleksandr Usyk.
Joshua was offered a 40 percent split of what would be a record-breaking haul to fight the Gypsy King.
Fury’s promoter Frank Warren said he would be sending Joshua an official letter for a fight with Fury soon.
A date in early November was initially put on the table, but Joshua can only return by December at the earliest following last month’s defeat to Usyk.
Fury also wants to include a rematch clause and Joshua’s team is happy with the terms, as long as they get the lion’s share for the second fight if they win in December.
Joshua’s promoter Eddie Hearn confirmed they are willing to take the deal on offer after talks with Frank Warren’s son George.
He told iFL TV on Thursday, “We just went back this (Thursday) morning and said I spoke to AJ about that offer, we think, I think particularly he deserves more than 40 percent.
“But, he’s happy. And I don’t make the decisions, he does. So, I went back this morning and said, ‘We accept 60/40’.
“We want that reversed in the rematch, rightfully so, because you’re champion here, you want the bigger split, which I think is fair.
“And we want to do the fight in December. Now, interestingly, they have December 17th, Queensberry held at the Millennium, so that’s perfect.”
Fury initially wanted to fight WBA, IBF, and WBO champion Usyk, who beat Joshua twice in the space of 11 months.
It would have been the heavyweight division’s first four-belt undisputed title decider.
But Fury wants to return to the ring by the end of the year and therefore turned his attention to Joshua.
However, despite having December 17th held, Fury has appeared to tell Joshua there are only two dates he’ll fight. He claimed on talkSPORT that November 26 at Wembley or December 3 in Cardiff are the dates on offer
He said, “I have Nov 26th at Wembley or Dec 3rd. One is 11 weeks, and one is 12 weeks.
“If a professional athlete who’s shredded all year round can’t get himself in shape in three months, there’s a problem.”
”Joshua, 32, was set to return before the end of the year against an opponent ranked within the world’s top 15.
”But plans to build back steadily could be cast aside if the chance to challenge for Fury’s WBC belt goes from longshot to reality.
Anthony Joshua has lost three times in his last five outings in the heavyweight division losing out his belts to Ukrainian boxer Oleksandr Usyk.