Anthony Joshua confirms first official offer to host Tyson Fury undisputed fight: ‘No place to hide now’

The first blockbuster all-British unification title showdown between Anthony Joshua and Tyson Fury appears to be edging ever closer.

Last month, the respective heavyweight champions agreed a lucrative deal to fight twice in arguably the most eagerly anticipated matches in British boxing history, though dates and venues have yet to be agreed.

Fury confirmed last week that there were “three or four big offers” on the table to host the first meeting, with interest from Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Uzbekistan, Russia and America as well as England, with Mayor Sadiq Khan insisting last week that London could host the bout.

Joshua, meanwhile, said his team were “working really hard to make the fight happen” and that he was hoping to share some “positive news soon”.

Then, in an update posted on social media late on Sunday night, the 2012 Olympic gold medalist revealed that he had received the first official offer to stage the contest, though did not disclose the location involved.

“Positive news this evening,” Joshua wrote on Twitter. “I’m lacing up by running boots rn [sic]!

“@258MGT and @Matchroomboxing have received the first OFFICIAL offer to host the undisputed heavyweight championship of the world!

“I will be victorious god willing! No place to hide now. I’m coming.”

After suffering a shock defeat by Andy Ruiz Jr on his US debut in June 2019, Joshua successfully regained the WBA (Super), IBF, WBO, and IBO heavyweight titles in a rematch in Saudi Arabia later that year before defending them successfully with a ninth-round knockout of mandatory challenger Kubrat Pulev in London in December.

Meanwhile, Fury currently holds the WBC and The Ring belts after his impressive seventh-round rematch stoppage of Deontay Wilder in his last fight in Las Vegas in February 2020.

There has not been an undisputed heavyweight champion of the world since Lennox Lewis, who held the title from 1999 to 2000.

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