The long-anticipated showdown between Tyson Fury and Anthony Joshua is a step closer to reality.
Bob Arum, Fury’s co-promoter, told BoxingScene.com that the heavyweight title-unification fight probably will take place at a new indoor arena in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia. And he said it will be distributed by ESPN but available on traditional pay-per-view platforms in the U.S. Sky Sports and BT Sport will carry the fight in the U.K.
Arum also confirmed that the event will take place on July 24, July 31 or Aug. 7, depending on the date preferred by investors in Saudi Arabia.
The camps, who received multiple location options the weekend before last, evidently have agreed upon Saudi Arabia. Joshua knocked out Kubrat Pulev there in December.
Organizers have not settled upon a price for the pay-per-view.
“I have no idea. We’ll work it out with ESPN, with In Demand,” Arum told BoxingScene.com. “(Joshua promoter) Eddie (Hearn of Matchroom Boxing) has to be consulted. It has to be a price that everybody agrees to.”
Fury (30-0-1, 21 KOs) and Joshua (24-1, 22 KOs) signed a two-fight deal – with equal purses – last month, which was contingent upon selecting an acceptable date and site.
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