Fury and Joshua Agreed to Fight in 2021

The fight boxing hopes to see in 2021, Anthony Joshua vs. Tyson Fury, could well be the very next in-ring appearance for both men. However, for now, the megafight that could give us the first undisputed world heavyweight champion in more than 20 years remains shrouded in uncertainty.

Part of this stems from fears that boxing politics will ensure that one or more governing bodies will remove their versions of the championship from the fight before it happens. The WBO has already warned Joshua that Oleksandr Usyk is their mandatory challenger and that Joshua has been allowed to delay that obligation for long enough. And promoter Eddie Hearn has retorted that he isn't afraid to entertain the idea of Fury vs. Joshua happening with zero world title belts at stake.

However the other source of nervous energy surrounding the bout, to which both sides had already agreed on financial terms earlier this year, comes from Joshua's awkward interview immediately after knocking out Kubrat Pulev to retain his titles on Dec. 12.

The Londoner, who holds the WBA and IBF titles in addition to the WBO strap, seemed reluctant to directly acknowledge that he wants Tyson Fury next, instead surveying the 1,000 fans allowed into the SSE Arena for fight night.

On an appearance for the Jonathan Ross Show, airing on ITV in the U.K. on Saturday evening, WBC champion Fury was far more forthcoming about the bout everybody wants.

"Next year, the fight has to happen," Fury said. "He's come over his final hurdle last week against Pulev. And now we're both free to make this fight. I'm willing to do the fight."

On that confusing interview by Joshua, on which Fury commented almost immediately on social media, he continued: "He was asked the question: 'Do you...