Tyson Fury vs Anthony Joshua given major boost with Deontay Wilder willing to step aside from trilogy.. if he’s paid £8m
HOPES for a Tyson Fury vs Anthony Joshua super-fight have been given a major boost with Deontay Wilder willing to step aside from his trilogy fight with the Gypsy King.
Boxing fans have been desperate to see an all-British heavyweight unification fight since Joshua reclaimed his belts from Andy Ruiz Jr and Fury beat Wilder.
AJ, 30, beat Ruiz in the Clash on the Dunes in December to clinch the WBA, IBF, WBO, and IBO belts.
And Fury, 31, stunned Wilder in February to get his hands on the WBC and Ring Magazine titles.
Immediately fans hoped to see the two Brits go toe-to-toe in the ring to decide who is the undisputed heavyweight champion of the world.
Wilder quickly invoked his rematch clause to ensure there would be a third fight on the cards.
But the Bronze Bomber - who underwent surgery on his injured bicep - has now admitted he could walk away, under some conditions.
According to reports, Wilder will allow Fury to fight Joshua instead, if he is given £8million.
On top of that, the American, 34, wants to be given assurances he can fight the winner to have his chance to clinch all of the heavyweight belts himself.
The only other spanner in the works comes from Joshua's side, with the Brit scheduled to fight mandatory challenger Kubrat Pulev.
The Bulgarian, though, has shown signs of being willing to step aside, too.
But Fury, on the other hand, has claimed that he will not pay Wilder a penny to step aside, instead admitting that he'd rather "take his scalp again".
The Gypsy King told Mark Wright on an Instagram Live: "I'm not paying him no money to step aside... I'd rather take his scalp again.
"I'll beat him in the ring and that's how I'll get him out the way. I wouldn't pay him £2m to step aside.
"I'd rather give him another battering, again. I'm gonna take him out again for a third time, hopefully end of the year, and then we're going to go into 2021 for the biggest fight in boxing history between two undefeated British heavyweights - me and AJ."
Meanwhile, Tony Bellew, who twice beat David Haye at heavyweight, admitted the Gypsy King must be recognised as the division's top dog but still thinks Joshua's style would lead him to victory against his rival.
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He told told Mark Wright on Instagram Live: “The top three heavyweights today, if you’re going on what they’re actually doing, you can’t really knock Tyson Fury for what he’s doing since he’s come back.
"I understand why people have him No1. I have to put Fury No1, but I still think AJ beats him. Styles make fights, and I think AJ’s style is all wrong for Fury.
"I think he would catch Fury. He’s so relentless, so powerful, so athletically explosive and dynamic. I don’t think Fury could keep him off.”
Fury also claimed he will "smash Wilder's face in" if they do fight, as he trains four times a day for his next fight.