World heavyweight boxing champion Anthony Joshua will have only one fight this year, but he could take on British compatriot Tyson Fury twice in 2021.
The WBA, WBO and IBF champion is due to fight Bulgarian Kubrat Pulev next, while WBC champion Fury faces a second rematch with American Deontay Wilder. The dates and venues have yet to be set.
With neither Wilder nor Pulev standing aside, those fights must happen before any unification bout between the British pair.
Promoter Eddie Hearn says the long-awaited clash between the two Englishmen would likely be a two-fight deal and he's ready to sign now for 2021.
"We have also now conceded that AJ will only fight once this year," says Hearn. "Before, it was all about getting that [Pulev] fight in early August to make sure we could fight in December.
"Because of the preparation needed and the magnitude of his shows, AJ will only box once in 2020.
"We have had a number of approaches from the Middle East, China, and Croatia to stage the fight. We want to give ourselves every opportunity to stage it in the UK, but we know it may not be possible."
Joshua won back his belts from Andy Ruiz Jr in Saudi Arabia last December and has not fought since.
The Pulev fight was originally scheduled for June 20 at Tottenham Hotspur's new 62,000-seat stadium in north London, but the coronavirus pandemic changed those plans.
Reuters
