Tyson Fury, Anthony Joshua reach huge two-fight agreement

Fans of professional boxing are in for a treat in 2021. Heavyweight champions Tyson Fury and Anthony Joshua have agreed to fight two times next year, promoter Eddie Hearn told ESPN.

There is no contract signed yet, and but the first fight would likely happen during the summer of 2021. Venues and dates will be announced later, but one potential location for the fight reportedly is somewhere in Saudi Arabia or elsewhere along the Arabian Peninsula.

"We have agreed to the basics of the deal, a two-fight deal," Hearn told ESPN. "The hardest part is to agree to the financial element of the deal. We have agreed with Tyson Fury and the team, and we can now move forward with finalizing the smaller parts of the deal. The good news for fight fans is that we have agreed to do the two fights and we can now go and dot the I's and cross the T's.

"They also have fights in between to make and get through, and that's another issue."

Fury, who is the reigning WBC champion, defeated Deontay Wilder in February. Wilder opted for a third fight against Fury, and that'll likely happen later this year when coronavirus concerns die down. Joshua, who is the WBO, WBA and IBF champion, defeated Andy Ruiz following a loss in 2019. 

If both maintain their titles, it sets the stage for a unified heavyweight champion for the first time in over 20 years, according to ESPN. According to Hearn, this will be the biggest boxing event in British history. 

Both boxers are looking to break records and make history when they step in to the ring next year, provided, of course, they sign official contracts.