By Charles Brun: There are still significant obstacles that stand in the way of the two-fight deal being completed between heavyweight champions Tyson Fury and Anthony Joshua for 2021. Besides both fighters needing to win their next matches in 2020 against Deontay Wilder and Kubrat Pulev, they need to agree to the broadcast rights for the U.S.
Despite WBC champion Fury (30-0-1, 21 KOs) and promoter Eddie Hearn making an early announcement of a two-fight deal for next year, they’ll need to figure a way passed the broadcast issues for the fights to take place, according to @MikeCoppinger.
Broadcast rights need to be agreed on for Joshua vs. Fury
Fury’s fights shown on ESPN in the States, and that’s not going to change. For his part, Joshua’s matches are streamed on DAZN. If the Joshua-Fury fights are sold on ESPN pay-per-view, the fans that have DAZN won’t need to purchase them on pay-per-view.
It’s a win-win for DAZN. However, if DAZN chooses to put the Joshua vs. Fury fights on pay-per-view, a massive amount of fans will likely cancel their subscriptions to the streaming giant. DAZN is supposed to be a non-pay-per-view service, and they can’t all of a sudden start charging fans to watch certain fights.
Purse splits for Joshua-Fury fights
The agreement that Joshua and Fury have is a 50-50 split for the first bout in the first half of 2021. The winner of that fight will enjoy a 60-40 split for the rematch in the second half of the year.
Tyson Fury rates himself as the greatest fighter
“There hasn’t been a heavyweight in any era in a thousand years that I couldn’t tackle or beat me,” said Fury to BT Sport Boxing. “Nevermind Mike Tyson from the 1980s; Muhammad Ali, Joe Louis, George Foreman, Joe Frazier, Ken Norton, Rocky Marciano, Floyd Patterson, Gene Tunney, John L Sullivan. Going right back to the beginning, not one of them could beat ‘The Gypsy King.’
“One, I’m too big, two I’m too good and three, I’ve got too many styles for them. Four, I’m an adapter and five, they couldn’t beat me anyway. I’m the greatest fighter that’s ever lived. Nevermind heavyweight, I’m the greatest fighter that’s ever lived. How is that for modesty.
“The greatest fighter that’s ever lived. I’m a big fat heavyweight with a bald head with plenty of heart to fight, and that’s it. I’m not interested in being remembered anyway. I’ve said that many times. So I’m enjoying my life now, and I’m not looking past today,” said Fury.
It sounds like Fury was just messing around because he isn’t the greatest fighter that ever lived. Wilder almost beat him in their first fight in 2018, and he used a lot of fouling to win their rematch. The greatest heavyweights, like Muhammad Ali, Jack Dempsey, Foreman, and Larry Holmes, would have had too much power and talent for Fury.
John Fury talks The Gypsy King vs. Joshua
“He’ll think he’s fighting an eel in cold water,” said John Fury to BT Sport Boxing on Fury vs. Anthony Joshua. “He’ll never touch Tyson. Tyson will box his head off. His heart will go. Listen, it’ll be an easier night than Deontay Wilder.
“I’ll take on all bets again. In the first round, Tyson will be jabbing, and he’ll be missing and then bang. Joshua will fall to pieces after the first right hand because he’ll know, ‘I can’t beat this man.’
“All those fighters know they can’t beat Tyson. I’ve watched them all. This crop of heavyweights can’t beat him. They haven’t got it. Tyson is a modest guy. I’m not modest. They’re all terrified of Tyson, and I’ll tell you something. They’ll be beat before they start because they know they can’t beat this man.
“‘The Gypsy King’ will reign forever. He’ll reign for ten years, and I’ll tell you this now. There’s got to be a Superman now that’s got to be born to beat him, and I haven’t seen him. Let’s get the Joshua fight on. I’ll tell you what I’ll do. I’ll bet Eddie Hearn everything. Let’s have a winner take all. Tyson will go for it,” said John Fury.
Joshua has a good chance of beating Tyson Fury based on the last performances from the two heavyweights. Fury went out and slugged with Deontay Wilder last February, and that’s a style that Joshua would do well against.
The mobility, jab, and the punching power favors Joshua. He’s got a lot going for him against Fury, and that may be enough for him to beat him twice. If Fury tries to punch with Joshua, it would be a mistake.
Mike Tyson fight interests John Fury
“I’d like to have a go,” said John Fury when asked about his interest in a fight against Mike Tyson. “I named my son after him. I know one thing. He’ll be in no better shape than me because I’ve got the edge in shape [over Mike Tyson]. I’ve lived better, and I’ve lived cleaner. Tyson was a great champion, and probably the best that’s ever been.
Mike Tyson would have given Fury problems
“If anybody is going to come close to beating him [Fury] in this era, that’s him,” said John Fury. “Mike Tyson has a better chance than Deontay Wilder and Anthony Joshua at 53-years-old. I’d like to have a go because I’m big and strong and game. That’s all you need to be. He’s past his best. I train every day.
“We’re not body beautiful, but I can run 10 miles with no problem today. I’m training all the time. I’m fit, strong and game and I’ve got a good heart. If he knocks me out, he knocks me out, but I’ll try to knock him out. I won’t be afraid to get in the ring, and I won’t be beaten before it’s started,” said John Fury.
It’s safe to say that Mike Tyson WON’T be picking the old and out of shape former journeyman John Fury to fight. John Fury (8-4-1, 1 KOs) had a lackluster eight-year professional career, and there’s nothing that he has going for him outside of being the father of ‘The Gypsy King’ for getting a fight against ‘Iron’ Mike Tyson.
It wouldn’t be a fair fight, and boxing fans would be angry if they paid to watch Tyson knockout the elderly looking John Fury in the first round. While some people still look youthful in their 50s, John Fury isn’t one of them. Besides looking too old, John doesn’t possess the pedigree to share the ring with Mike Tyson.
The American boxing fans would have no idea who John Fury is. You couldn’t sell a fight between Tyson and John Fury in the States because there’s no selling point.
