"I'd fight in Timbuktu": Tyson Fury open to Saudi Arabia fight with Anthony Joshua

Peter Thompson

"I'd fight in Timbuktu": Tyson Fury open to Saudi Arabia fight with Anthony Joshua image

Tyson Fury said he would "fight in Timbuktu if the money's right" after it was reported talks over a unification fight with Anthony Joshua in Saudi Arabia are under way.

Fury's next bout is due to be another rematch with Deontay Wilder later this year, while Joshua was set to fight Kubrat Pulev on June 20 but that was postponed due to the coronavirus pandemic.

With uncertainty over when major sporting action can resume amid the COVID-19 crisis and Wilder recovering from bicep surgery, there has been increased talk of an all-British showdown between Joshua and Fury coming next.

Joshua regained the IBF, WBA and WBO titles in Diriyah last December, where he avenged his shock loss to Andy Ruiz Jr with a lopsided points triumph, and Fury says he would be willing to fight anywhere if the finances are right.

The WBC champion told ESPN: "I'll fight in Timbuktu if the money's right. I have a bag and I will travel."

 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

One night I slept at the boxing gym. I realised this is where my dreams begin #StayHungry

A post shared by Anthony Joshua (@anthonyjoshua) on

 

Eddie Hearn, Joshua's promoter, confirmed negotiations with Fury's representatives MTK Global have taken place.

"We're talking to MTK about where that fight would take place," he told ESPN. "At the moment, the main focus for everybody [is] the contractual situations."

He added: "The conversations between myself and MTK are that we've had an approach. We've had a number of approaches from territories to stage that fight.

"So the only discussions at the moment are where this fight takes place - and we don't even know when this fight could take place.

"We're certainly open to have discussions about the possibility of this happening this year or in the next fight.

"There's more chance at the moment that the bigger money could come next year because we don't even know if we can do live crowds in November, December."

Peter Thompson