TYSON Fury and Anthony Joshua are set to come face-to-face for the first time in nearly five years, adding an extra layer of hype attached to their potential all-British showdown.
The former world heavyweight champions have, of course, been on a collision course for what seems like an age, with their domestic rivalry telling a tale as old as time.
But even so, it would appear that the stars, though remaining unaligned, are now glittering in the midnight sky, offering a tantalising picture for those still desperate to see the two giants lock horns.
While the pair are yet to sign on the dotted line, they have nonetheless confirmed their attendance at IBA.PRO 7, which takes centre stage in Istanbul, Turkiye, on July 2.
The event, which is expected to attract several more famous faces, will be headlined by an intriguing super-featherweight clash between WBA ‘interim’ champion Albert Batyrgaziev and Jazza Dickens.
For Dickens, it represents an opportunity to place himself back into the world-title picture, while Batyrgaziev, in equal measure, looks to cement himself as an elite 130lb operator.
At the same time, though, an unexpected rendezvous involving Fury and Joshua should, if nothing else, introduce a few more bells and whistles to the night of action.
Their last documented encounter took place in Marbella, back when Fury pulled up alongside his possible dance partner in a top-of-the-range Range Rover.
But while it made for a social media-friendly image, their interaction in 2020 offered very little in terms of genuine talks for a mooted showdown.
More recently, ‘The Gypsy King’ has only distanced himself further away from Joshua, with the announcement of his retirement earlier this year arriving as a mini surprise.
The degree of optimism among fans that still exists, however, could quite easily be enhanced if the two stars are seen exchanging words in a ringside environment.
On top of that, stars such as supermodel icon Naomi Campbell, Ryan Garcia, and Terence Crawford are expected to join Fury and Joshua, along with an additional selection of boxing’s most prominent names.
