Tyson Fury and Anthony Joshua have long been talked about as potential opponents and could break all British box-office records if they meet.
However, despite the best efforts of all parties, for whatever reason, no deal has been signed between the two popular Brits, the latest efforts failing in 2022 following Anthony Joshua’s defeat to Oleksandr Usyk in a rematch in Saudi Arabia.
However, Fury has an undisputed heavyweight title clash against Usyk on February 17 in Saudi Arabia as part of a two-fight agreement.
On March 8, Joshua faces Francis Ngannou in Riyadh with the victor progressing towards a clash with the winner of Fury vs Usyk.
Turki Alalshikh, the chairman of Saudi Arabia’s General Entertainment Authority and Riyadh Season, recently discussed a number of topics with DAZN’s Ade Oladipo.
Alalshikh gave his take on the heavyweight division and what he wants to achieve with the heavyweight quartet of Fury, Joshua, Usyk and Ngannou.
“We want to see Fury-Usyk and the result, and the rematch between Fury [and] Usyk,” Alalshikh said. “And after that, we want to see Tyson Fury against Ngannou, or the people want to see it. And we want to see, if Fury [wins], we want to see him against Joshua if Joshua [wins]. If Usyk [wins], maybe we have [a] chance to have the third fight. And even if Usyk [wins], the people still want to see Tyson against Joshua. This is what we want to deliver to the market. And we close a lot of things about this.”
“We are coming with a new strategy,” Alalshikh added, “and new idea and new vision … to do and deliver to the market the best [fights], with good price, and make the [fights] that people want to see. We don’t want to waste time. Tyson Fury is 35 now, around 35. Joshua is around 33, I think. Usyk [is] around 36, Wilder 38, 37. Artur [Beterbiev] now 39, next week. Why are we losing time?
“The people need to see Joshua-Fury, Fury-Joshua, need to see Joshua-Wilder. And I hope Wilder [comes] back. You know, and there is a rumour, and you know it, the fight was between Joshua and Wilder [for March 8]. But you see the result and the body condition of Wilder now. It would not be reasonable to have the fight now. We want him to come back. And I see [Joseph] Parker, what he’s doing, amazing show, and he’s one of the best boxers [who has come back] now, this year."
