Joshua v Klitschko: Heavyweights ‘Agree to Fight’

Britain’s Anthony Joshua and Ukraine’s Wladimir Klitschko have agreed to fight each other, with an announcement expected in a couple of days, promoter Eddie Hearn announced yesterday.

According to Hearn, the heavyweight fight needs to be sanctioned, with Joshua’s IBF belt and potentially the WBA and WBO titles on the line.

“Terms are virtually there,” he said.

On Wednesday, Britain’s Tyson Fury relinquished his WBA and WBO belts and his boxing licence was thensuspended.

The British Boxing Board of Control (BBB of C) revoked Fury’s licence “pending further investigation into anti-doping and medical issues”, after the 28-year-old admitted he had been taking cocaine to help him deal with depression.

Fury beat Ukraine’s Klitschko last November to win the WBA, IBF and WBO titles but withdrew from two scheduled rematches.

Britain’s undefeated heavyweight champion Joshua, 27, was scheduled to defend his title on November 26 in Manchester.

Hearn says the fight between Joshua and Klitschko will likely be held at the 21,000-capacity Manchester Arena.

Speaking to BBC Radio 5 live, Hearn added: “The deal between the fighters is there. The financial terms are agreed, there was a problem with US broadcasters but that has been sorted.

“It is now a case of getting the paperwork and the sanctioning in order. Hopefully in a couple of days we will have the official announcement.”