Anthony Joshua and Tyson Fury have signed a deal for an undisputed world heavyweight title fight, promoter Eddie Hearn has confirmed.
The British rivals have been locked in lengthy negotiations in recent months but have now finalised terms for the blockbuster battle, with a date and venue to be confirmed.
Unified champion Joshua will put his WBA, IBF and WBO belts on the line against the unbeaten WBC champion Fury this year.
Unruly ???? pic.twitter.com/eA6McGABt6
— Anthony Joshua (@anthonyjoshua) March 8, 2021
Joshua’s promoter Hearn told Sky Sports: “All parties have now put pen to paper and we will be working hard over the next few weeks to confirm the site and date for the biggest fight in boxing.”
A variety of potential venues are being considered to stage the fight, including Saudi Arabia, Singapore, Qatar, China, Dubai, America and the UK.
Joshua recently told Sky News: “Any option. Home turf, Middle East, my back garden, your back garden. I don’t mind where it is.
“I’m just ready to fight. I want that belt. I want to compete with Fury so all options are open to me.”
With a training camp already under way, Joshua also admitted he is relishing a massive showdown with Fury.
“[The pandemic] is getting close to things being normal. We’re working on a date for around June,” he said.
“So if Tyson is serious, which I think he is, he’ll know where to come and find the boss!
“I’m ready. I’m really looking forward to competition – all I want to do is fight, fight, fight!”
![Rev. Fr. Anthony Odiong, a US-based Nigerian Louisiana Catholic priest, was arrested in Florida on Tuesday for possessing child pornography, according to law authorities. The suspect is reportedly accused of many other cases of sexual assault. The Waco, Texas, Police Department announced in a Facebook post on Tuesday that officers detained Father Anthony Odiong in Ave Maria, Florida, with assistance from the United States Marshals Service. Waco police announced in March that they had received "credible information" about a sexual assault allegedly committed by Odiong in Texas in 2012. “During the subsequent investigation, a case of possession of child pornography was uncovered,” the police said. The priest was apprehended in Florida by the Caribbean Regional Fugitive Task Force. The Waco Police Department said that he will be extradited to Texas. Odiong had previously served in the Archdiocese of New Orleans before being removed as priest in December of last year due to controversy over homilies in which he claimed, among other things, that the Catholic Church was being taken over by "the gays." At the time, the priest was also accused of abusive behaviour; a Louisiana lady claimed in U.S. bankruptcy court that Odiong had committed both financial and sexual abuse against her. Prior to joining the New Orleans Archdiocese, Odiong served in at least two Texas parishes. On Tuesday, Waco police stated that during their sexual assault investigation, "the presence of other survivors was revealed." “Multiple women have come forward to tell similar experiences as the sexual assault survivor who reported the initial allegation,” the police department said. “Survivors’ experiences ranged from sexual assault and indecent assault, more commonly recognised as groping, and financial abuse, with some survivors experiencing every element of Anthony Odiong’s manipulation.” The police said they “believe there may be more survivors, and we wish to speak with anyone who [has] had similar encounters” with the priest. The Archdiocese of New Orleans issued a brief news release on Tuesday noting Odiong's arrest in Florida. The archdiocese “encourages anyone with any information to contact law enforcement,” the release said.](https://chronicle.ng/wp-content/uploads/2024/08/ezgif-6-4730550ede-450x300.jpg "Odiong: US-based Nigerian Catholic priest convicted over sexual assault")