Anthony Joshua promoter Eddie Hearn said a deal for the world heavyweight champion to meet Tyson Fury in this year’s world heavyweight title competition is almost done, with a center in Middle East is a front-runner to host it.
Joshua defeated Bulgarian Kubrat Pulev last month to retain his IBF, WBO and WBA titles in anticipation of a verbal clash with WBC-owned fellow Briton Fury.
“The agreement has been made, in fact – not signed,” Hearn told the Times.
“The financial elements of the contract are done. We are talking through the broadcast situation, the only thing now is to paper it.
“And when you write a contract like that, it goes back and forth 15 hours before every letter on the document is accepted.”
Fury has not been fighting since they defeated Deontay Wilder of America in their next round in Las Vegas in February to claim the WBC crown.
Hearn said Joshua and Fury would face two fights – the first of which is likely to be in the Middle East later this year – and hoped to bring the replacement back to Britain. .
“The Middle East will be aggressive and will be at the forefront here. To set up this fight, you need a lot of support from the government. You need someone who is holding this fight as a statement for the their country, “Hearn said.
“I would like it [the rematch] due to [in the United Kingdom]. Where? Millennium Stadium. “