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Tyson Fury's ESPN deal: Deontay Wilder and Anthony Joshua fights less likely after record breaking £80million contract

Tyson Fury has announced an £80million deal with US sports broadcasting giant ESPN which could make him the biggest star in world boxing.

But it means a potential all-British heavyweight clash with world champion Anthony Joshua is now unlikely.

It also means that talks aimed at setting up a world title rematch between Fury and Deontay Wilder have taken a new twist, although promoter Frank Warren is still hopeful of clinching a summer date for the fight.

The two-and-a-half year package — the biggest in British boxing history — hands former world champion Fury a massive boost in the battle for popularity and global earnings with Joshua, who has his first contest in the US against Jarrell Miller in New York on June 1.

Disney-backed ESPN reaches more than 90 million households in the US alone and pay-per-view fights involving Fury could generate hundreds of millions in revenue.

However, Joshua is teamed up with the new US broadcaster DAZN and with the ground shifting in American sports TV, the two outlets will not come together to set up a bout between Fury and Joshua.

Fury, 30, proved a huge hit with American viewers in his thrilling draw with WBC champion Wilder in Los Angeles in December. And his fighting style, coupled with his personality, have convinced ESPN they can make him the biggest British sports star the US has known.

The broadcaster will also show other fights staged by Warren, including a step up by Billy Joe Saunders to challenge for the vacant WBO world super-middleweight title against Shefat Isufi of Germany at Wembley Arena on May 13.

Warren said: “This is a massive and historic deal which blows out of the water anything seen before in British boxing and can make Tyson a huge star in America and across the world.”

Fury was set for a return with Wilder on May 18 and talks had reached an advanced stage with Showtime. But the deal with ESPN means thrashing out a new package. Warren added: “We’d still like to make the fight so we’ll see where it all goes.”

Fury also insisted that the new deal will not hinder hopes of setting up the rematch against Wilder.

He said: "If I didn't want to fight him, I wouldn't have fought him in the first place.

"The fight is now more make-able because we have the biggest broadcaster in town behind us. Deontay, I'm coming for you baby."

The deal made by Warren's Queensbeery Promotions Company means Fury's fights will be shown live exclusively by ESPN in the USA, and has been struck in conjunction with the Top Rank organisation headed by veteran US promoter Bob Arum.

BT Sport will show his fights in the UK.

Fury said: “I’m delighted that Frank and Queensberry Promotions have teamed up with Top Rank to promote my fights in America.

With ESPN and BT Sport behind me, the biggest sports platforms in the world are now linked up with the best heavyweight in the world!”

Frank Warren said: “This is a great move for Tyson Fury and a great move for Queensberry Promotions.

"By partnering up with ESPN and Top Rank in America, we’re giving Tyson the opportunity to perform on the biggest and most powerful platforms on both sides of the Atlantic and become a truly global star.”

Fury has convinced ESPN he can become a big star on both sides of the Atlantic (Lionel Hahn/PA Wire)
Fury has convinced ESPN he can become a big star on both sides of the Atlantic (Lionel Hahn/PA Wire)

Top Rank chief Bob Arum added: “Top Rank is very excited to enter into the promotional arrangement along with Queensberry Promotions for the lineal heavyweight champion, Tyson Fury.

“He is a generational heavyweight talent at the peak of his powers."

The deal means that Fury will fight twice a year in the USA.