No rematch clause dey inside the deal for Anthony Joshua and Tyson Fury December 11 mega-fight. Di two former world champions go meet for an all-British heavyweight showdown at Principality Stadium in Cardiff.
Joshua and Fury don be fierce rivals for almost a decade. But instead of setting up second fight, their December 11 bout na expected to be one-off, with retirement beckoning for di loser.
Spencer Brown, Fury manager, tell Sky Sports News say: Contractually, there’s one fight. There’s one big fight. It was designed for that. I’m not saying there can’t be a second fight. But, if Tyson wins, we’d like to resume things with Oleksandr Usyk as well.
Defeat though fit usher either Fury or Joshua out of di sport. Brown talk say: They’re all close to the end of their careers. Whoever loses here, where do they go? That’s a tough one. Where do they go afterwards? Whoever wins, the journey continues. Whoever loses, they’ve got to think about what they’re going to do and when they’re going to do it.
Eddie Hearn, Joshua promoter, believe say di right kind of fight fit lead to second bout with Fury. Hearn tell Sky Sports News: No rematch clause. It’s one fight, one-off. Listen, if it’s a blockbuster, I’m sure they’ll do it again. But for our mindset, it’s one and done. Go in there, end this guy and on we go.
He add say: Both guys could be down in this fight but they’re so desperate to win you can guarantee they’ll be climbing and crawling off that canvas to win the fight.
After more than a decade of public feuding and false starts, Tyson Fury and Anthony Joshua exchange pleasantries, trade jokes and even discuss going for a pint at a news conference in London. Di British heavyweight rivals go fight at Cardiff’s Principality Stadium on 11 December.
For all di history between them, di launch feel more like two veterans in di closing stages of long, turbulent careers taking stock of how far they don come. Fury, 38, talk about Joshua say: He’s been a role model and poster boy for British boxing for years. I mostly find myself defending my arch rival to fans in the street.
On Monday, uncertainty still dey over whether di fight go happen because of contractual disagreements surrounding di promotion. Plenty reason bin dey to expect fireworks on Wednesday. Instead, Joshua, 36, speak about di magnitude of di event. He say: It’s breathtaking and I’m not saying that lightly. I’m really grateful for this opportunity and bringing it to Great Britain because I know people in pubs have had proper fights about who will win and family members have fallen out.
Di mood perhaps best summed up at di face-off, when Joshua smile and pretend to tickle Fury stomach. Something almost surreal dey about seeing Fury and Joshua finally sitting side by side after so many years in which their rivalry exist mostly through interviews, social media and failed negotiations.
Both arrive hours earlier for one-to-one interviews. When di news conference begin, master of ceremonies Michael Buffer introduce di pair as fireworks shot up from di front of di stage. They enter from opposite sides at di same time – Joshua relaxed and composed in a grey tracksuit and sunglasses, Fury in more flamboyant fashion in a vivid emerald-green suit covered in crown motifs over a white shirt.
Alongside di world media, a few hundred fans fill di balcony above and quickly make their allegiance known as Oh Anthony Joshua rang around di British Airways ARC. Joshua don be credited with pushing to keep di fight in Britain and, if Wednesday na any indication, fit expect strong backing in Cardiff – even with di main event potentially starting about 02:00 GMT to suit American audiences.
For two men whose names don dey linked for so long, Fury and Joshua don spend remarkably little time together. But their famous sparring session in 2010, when Joshua still be amateur, soon become di topic of conversation. Fury suggest say he get di better of it, prompting one fan to shout: Liar. Joshua smile and say he no fit remember.
For those who believe di fight don come years too late, Fury get simple response. He say: It’s the icing on the cake of two great careers. Moments later, he glance back at di word Finally on di giant screen behind them.
Several moments of common ground dey. Fury nod along as Joshua speak about him Christian faith and, even when di pair trade insults, they rarely feel venomous. Fury say: This man here is carved in stone and every time he gets cracked on the jaw, he falls over. When I crack him on the jaw with a big right hand, he’s going down. Joshua laugh and shout back Fury own catchphrase: Get up.
Di fight don be reported as being for di vacant WBA ‘super’ heavyweight title, although current WBA heavyweight champion Murat Gassiev team don lodge formal objection over di proposed title arrangement.
For a moment, e appear di mood fit turn when Joshua reveal he receive call asking whether Fury name fit appear first in di promotion. Fury reply: You’ve been crying behind the scenes to get out of this fight. I’ve checkmated you. You have to fight. I’ve actually never won a world title here. Now it’s on the line, we can become a three-time.
That exchange come after several chaotic days in which di role of UFC and Zuffa Boxing chief Dana White threaten to overshadow di fight. Netflix present White as part of di promotion alongside Turki Alalshikh The Ring, despite Joshua promoter Eddie Hearn insisting say him fighter contract prevent White from having a promotional role.
But White no attend Wednesday launch. And when Alalshikh thank di American from di stage, him name meet with jeers from sections of di crowd. Fury momentarily take aim at Hearn, calling him a sausage – but even that no last long. Within minutes, Fury offer to go for a pint with di Matchroom boss – and extend di invitation to Joshua.
Fury say: I hope after this fight we can have a pint of Guinness together. Win, lose or draw, let’s bury the hatchet. Joshua reply: I don’t know if I can trust you, drawing laughter.
