Anthony Joshua accepts Tyson Fury terms for December 3 fight

Boxing’s megabucks blockbuster between Tyson Fury and Anthony Joshua, which looked to be disappearing into an uncertain future, now seems set fair for as early as December.

Joshua has accepted Fury’s terms for a pre-Christmas showdown that the public has wanted for so long but which seemed in danger of never happening.

A 60-40 purse split in favour of Fury as the WBC world heavyweight champion had already been agreed and now Joshua has compromised on a December 3 date for one of the biggest battles in UK boxing history.

The deadly duo are set to meet at last under the retractable roof of Cardiff’s Principality Stadium.

Fury had suspended negotiations out of respect for global mourning following the death of the Queen, but Joshua has promoted further discussion by instructing his own management company, 258, to close the deal.

‘258 and Matchroom Boxing can confirm, on behalf of Anthony Joshua, that we accepted all terms presented to us by Fury’s team for a fight Dec 3rd last Friday,’ 258 tweeted on Tuesday. ‘Due to the Queen’s passing, it was agreed to halt all communication. We are awaiting a response.’

Nothing unseemly in that. Everything consistent with retrieving this fight from the waste bin of opportunity lost.

Joshua’s team quickly received one on Twitter from Fury’s promoter Frank Warren on Twitter.

Warren replied: ‘Contract will be with you very soon.’