Tyson Fury and Anthony Joshua will have no guaranteed second fight after their long-awaited heavyweight showdown, with the loser facing major questions about what comes next.
The former world champions are due to meet on December 11 at Cardiff’s Principality Stadium.
Their rivalry has been discussed for years, but Fury’s manager Spencer Brown says the deal covers a single bout, with no contractual rematch clause.
“Contractually, there’s one fight. There’s one big fight. It was designed for that. I’m not saying there can’t be a second fight. But, if Tyson wins, we’d like to resume things with [Oleksandr] Usyk as well,” Brown told Sky Sports News.
Brown suggested defeat could leave either man weighing up whether to continue boxing, given both are approaching the latter stages of their careers.
“They’re all close to the end of their careers,” he added. “Whoever loses here, where do they go? That’s a tough one.
“Where do they go afterwards? Whoever wins, the journey continues. Whoever loses, they’ve got to think about what they’re going to do and when they’re going to do it.”
Tyson Fury and Anthony Joshua will have no guaranteed second fight after their long-awaited heavyweight showdown, with the loser facing major questions about what comes next
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The absence of a rematch clause does not rule out the rivals meeting again.
Joshua’s promoter Eddie Hearn believes a second fight could still be made if their first encounter delivers the kind of spectacle fans expect.
“No rematch clause. It’s one fight, one-off. Listen, if it’s a blockbuster, I’m sure they’ll do it again. But for our mindset, it’s one and done. Go in there, end this guy and on we go,” Hearn said.
Five things to know about Tyson Fury | GETTY/GB NEWS
The promoter also expects both heavyweights to show just how much the fight means to them if either is knocked down.
“Both guys could be down in this fight but they’re so desperate to win you can guarantee they’ll be climbing and crawling off that canvas to win the fight,” he added.
The December bout is a defining moment for two of Britain’s biggest boxing names.
Fury, 38, and Joshua, 36, have both held world heavyweight titles, but neither has fought the other despite years of negotiations and public calls for a showdown.
Tyson Fury and Anthony Joshua will finally settle their differences on December 11 | GETTY
The fight was confirmed for Cardiff after a long wait.
That was due to Joshua lobbying for the bout to take place in Britain, instead of the United States.
For Fury, a victory could open the door to another meeting with Usyk, who has beaten him twice in 2024.
Joshua, meanwhile, will be looking to claim one of the biggest wins of his career and keep his own heavyweight ambitions alive.
