With the coronavirus outbreak throwing boxing into chaos, Anthony Joshua and Tyson Fury’s next appearances in the ring have been delayed, therefore pushing the clash between the pair backwards.
The pair were potentially eyeing up a showdown later this year until the coronavirus pandemic ruined plans and forced back their own upcoming bouts back.
Hopes of the two meeting at some point this year were also scrapped by the WBC as they have said that Dillian Whyte should not wait any longer for a shot at the WBC title.
Whyte will earn an opportunity to face Fury for his WBC world heavyweight title before the end of February 2021.
Baring that in mind, with their scheduled fights already being pushed back, Fury fighting Joshua in between when British boxing is resumed, and February 2021 is nigh on impossible.
Fury’s trilogy fight with Deontay Wilder, provisionally scheduled for some time in July, has been postponed to, most likely, October and Joshua’s bout with Kubrat Pulev has been postponed from June, with a date still to be decided.
As a result of this, the two switched their attention to staging the fight early next year, but with the WBC demanding Whyte a title shot, this isn’t possible.
Overall, this ensures that the pair will not meet until the following summer at the earliest.
It is currently believed that Joshua will use the time he has to arrange a fight with mandatory WBO contender Oleksandr Usyk.
If this fight does go ahead, Eddie Hearn faces a familiar situation to when Joshua fought Whyte as Usyk is another Matchroom boxing fighter.
The WBO has said that the fight has to be complete this calendar year, however, they have not indicated as to whether they will allow an extension due to the coronavirus outbreak and current lockdown in the UK.
Hearn, CEO of Matchroom Boxing, currently faces the tricky task of trying to find a new venue for Joshua’s closest fight against Kubrat Pulev.
AJ’s fight was originally going to be held at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium but, due to the postponement of the Premier League season, it is thought the venue will be in use by owners, Tottenham Hotspur.