Anthony Joshua vs Tyson Fury: Financial deal agreed, as odds reveal Gypsy King is likely next fight, but Deontay Wilder and Oleksandr Usyk provide hurdles

Anthony Joshua and Tyson Fury have agreed financial terms to face each other twice in 2021.

The fight, though, is not a completely done deal yet with multiple hurdles still to overcome, but things are looking promising for the biggest battle British boxing has ever seen.

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Both men have given their consent to a two-fight agreement.

The financial terms state that the first bout will be a 50/50 purse split, while the rematch will be a 60/40 split in favour of whomever wins the first.

It is unknown where and when the fights are going to happen, though the most likely venue seems the Middle East.

And at least one hurdle has been cleared in the shape of IBF mandatory challenger Kubrat Pulev, who was most recently beaten by Joshua.

The teams are now free to move forward with the securing the fight, which they have both said they will begin immediately.

Eddie Hearn said it is his job to deliver the super fight and Bob Arum said it could be heavyweight boxing’s biggest fight in almost 50 years.

However, there are still further issues in the way.

Fury must resolve his situation with Deontay Wilder, who remains adamant that he is owed a trilogy fight from the ‘Gypsy King’.

The Brit’s team insist their contract has expired, but the ‘Bronze Bomber’ intends to take the issue to mediation/arbitration.

If this does happen, a retired judge will be assigned as mediator and will make a legally binding ruling on the matter.

Should they decide Fury does owe Wilder a third fight, then the AJ fight is scuppered for the time being.

But if the decision goes in Fury’s favour, then he will be free to face Joshua.

Ryan Hafey/PBC

There is another potential hindrance in the way as well, though this one would not necessarily prevent the fight from happening.

In early 2021, Joshua will be obliged to fight WBO mandatory challenger Oleksandr Usyk.

Usyk has said he has no intentions of stepping aside and will demand his shot at the title.

This could mean AJ is forced to vacate the WBO belt in order to face Fury, so their fight would no longer be for the ‘undisputed’ status.

There are other possible solutions to this issue within the complicated politics of boxing, but as things stand it remains a problem that needs to be solved.

Dave Thompson/Matchroom

The final elephant in the room is the UK and US TV broadcaster situations.

Fury works with BT Sport in the UK and has a contractual relationship with ESPN in America.

Joshua has a contractual relationship with Sky Sports in the UK and works with DAZN in America.

It is yet to be seen whether compromise agreements can be made between the parties for all four broadcasters to have involvement when the pair meet.

Although the announcement of financial terms being agreed was a significant step towards Joshua vs Fury, there is still a way to go before both men stand across from one another in the ring.