Anthony Joshua accepts date to fight Tyson Fury

Anthony Joshua has officially accepted a date for his bout fight with Tyson Fury, with both fighters prepared to go head-to-head later this year.

Joshua's management team, 258 MGT, confirmed the news of the agreement in a statement posted online after Fury challenged Joshua to a fight with a 60-40 purse.

The offer came after Fury previously floated plans to retire, but last month he informed the World Boxing Council (WBC) of his plans to return to the ring.

He initially suggested 26 November at Wembley or 3 December in Cardiff as potential dates for a bout with Joshua, though Joshua's team pushed for the later date of 17 December.

The fighters managed to reach an agreement last Friday (9 December), according to 258 MGT, with a statement explaining: "258 and Matchroom Boxing can confirm, on behalf of Anthony Joshua, that we accepted all terms presented to us by Fury’s team for a fight Dec 3rd last Friday."

Though there is now a date in mind for the fight, the management company went on to explain that the teams 'agreed to halt all communication' in the wake of the Queen's passing on 8 September.

"We are awaiting a response," 258 MGT added.

After the management company shared the statement on Twitter, Frank Warren, Fury’s UK promoter and Queensbury Promotions boss, replied to say Joshua would receive a contract for the fight ‘very soon’.

Joshua, who entered the WBC rankings at No 6 this week, was originally set to fight Fury in August 2021, but an arbitration judge ruling put a spanner in the works when it was determined Deontay Wilder was contractually entitled to a third fight against Fury. Wilder ultimately lost the bout in an 11th-round knockout.

As news of a new fight between Fury and Joshua began to come to light, Fury’s US promoter Bob Arum speculated Joshua's team would try to avoid an event with Fury after being beaten for the second time by Oleksandr Usyk last month.

Speaking to Boxing Social, Arum said: "I don’t think it’s gonna happen because, while Fury would want it to happen, I put myself in the shoes of Eddie Hearn and Joshua. And after losing twice to Usyk, the first thing you want to do is to get him back in the ring and get him two fights where it restores his confidence. If he goes back in the ring now with Fury, it’s gonna be a massacre."

Hopefully more details about the fight will be announced soon.