TYSON FURY will watch the fight between Anthony Joshua and Francis Ngannou from ringside because he knows their paths could cross.
AJ will return to Saudi Arabia tonight against MMA star Ngannou, with Fury travelling to Riyadh to watch.
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The Gypsy King is in camp for their undisputed bout on May 18, with Oleksandr Usyk withdrawing from his February 17 bout due to a cut.
And the winner of the unified title fight would face either Joshua or Ngannou.
So here, SunSport looks at when British boxing fans will finally get the fight they’ve been waiting so many years for.
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When will Fury and Joshua fight?
Although the winner between 34-year-old Joshua and 37-year-old Ngannou is promised to win the undisputed crown, it is not that simple.
That’s because Fury, 35, and Usyk, 37, have agreed a two-fight deal, meaning they will box twice this year.
This therefore eliminates the possibility that AJ will be able to challenge Fury until the year 2025.
What will be on the line?
If Fury wins his doubleheader against Usyk, he should do so with all four heavyweight belts.
But he will also be stripped of the IBF version after his first fight, as Filip Hrgovic is the mandatory challenger.
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So if Fury has a rematch with Usyk and is stripped of his belt, Joshua is being lined up to fight Hrgovic for the vacant IBF belt, which he could then defend against the Gypsy King in theory.
What has been said?
Joshua has refused to comment on any matter other than Ngannou – but Fury has been much more vocal.
He said: “Turkey (Alalshikh), I was talking about it with him last night and he said the winner of this fight will be the winner between you and Usyk.
“After the fight between Usyk and me, there will be a rematch, then the winner of that will get a chance to play a rematch.
“There are two fights scheduled between me and Usyk this year. So the winner of that fight will have to fight the winner of this fight. So there is a lot at stake.”
AJ’s promoter Eddie Hearn believes he could move to fight Fury before the Usyk rematch, but would be content with Hrgovic and the vacant title if necessary.
he told Boxing News“You know if AJ knocks out Ngannou and Fury beats Usyk then HE will have the opportunity to have the biggest fight in the sport, one of the biggest fights in the history of the sport (and) it will be very hard for him not to do that.
“We’ve been told if we beat Ngannou we’ll get the undisputed chance, this was before Fury was cut.
“If in the meantime we have to fight Hrgovic for the world title then there is no problem.”
Read more at The Scottish Sun
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Anthony Joshua vs Francis Ngannou: Read everything you need to know ahead of the huge crossover fight
