Anthony Oluwafemi Olaseni Joshua vs. Tyson Luke Fury

August 14th, Saudi Arabia - confirmed!

Heavyweight unification for all the marbles, the first time an undisputed champion will be crowned this millennium (since Lewis in '99). WBC (1st defense of Fury), WBA Super, IBF, WBO, and IBO (2nd defense of each by Joshua in his second reign w/ all four) heavyweight titles at stake.

 

Crazy that each fought just once in 2020 and they pushed these negotiations so long that it'll probably make this both men's only appearance of this year.

Generally you can base outcomes at least in part on recent form but you're stretching 8 months in Joshua's case (preceded by a full one year layoff between Ruiz II and Pulev) and 1½ years in Fury's case since Wilder II. Makes it kind of hard to rely on how they looked in their last outings.

 

They have two common opponents:

Wladimir Klitschko (lost via UD to Fury in 2015, and via TKO11 against Joshua in 2017)
Kevin Johnson (lost via UD to Fury in 2012, and via TKO2 against Joshua in 2015)

One might also count Otto Wallin, losing a UD to Fury in 2019 in the pros, and having sparred Joshua in 2016 as well as losing to him twice in the amateurs.

 

So, like, n/m or..wtf?