Tyson Fury confirms date for long-awaited fight against Anthony Joshua

Tyson Fury has confirmed his all-British fight with Anthony Joshua will take place in Saudi Arabia on 14 August.

The boxing champions will contest all four world heavyweight titles for the first time in the sport's history.

In a video on Twitter, Fury, known as the 'Gypsy King', said: "I have got some massive news. I have just got off the phone with Prince Khalid of Saudi Arabia and he told me this fight is 100% on, August 14th, 2021."

The WBC champion, 32, added: "All eyes of the world will be on the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia.

"I cannot wait, repeat, cannot wait to smash Anthony Joshua on the biggest stage of all time. This is going to be the biggest sporting event ever to grace the planet Earth. Do not miss it. All eyes on us. See you all in Saudi."

Joshua, 31, holds the WBA, WBO and IBF belts.

Joshua, from Watford, last week called on the highly-anticipated fight to be finalised as he aimed a pointed remark towards Fury on social media.

He wrote: "'Spartan'. I'm tired. My fans are tired. Your fans are tired. We're all tired of the talk. Less talk. More action! @Tyson_Fury."

Fury, who was born in Manchester, replied: "Are you ready for a war? Working hard to give the fans a big KO!"

Plans for a fight between the pair were set in motion when Fury beat Deontay Wilder to capture the WBC title in February 2020.

That was a couple of months after Joshua avenged his only career loss to Andy Ruiz Jr, a fight which also took place in Saudi Arabia, at the Diriyah Arena.

Joshua retained his three belts last December with a ninth-round knockout of mandatory challenger Kubrat Pulev.

But Fury's planned trilogy fight against Wilder has failed to materialise.

And a proposed homecoming clash against Agit Kabayel in December 2020 was thrown into doubt.

This means Fury has not fought in more than 14 months since stopping Wilder in Las Vegas.

Following promoter Eddie Hearn's revelation last week that the bout was set to take place in Saudi Arabia, Kate Allen from Amnesty International UK said: "It comes as no surprise that Saudi Arabia is once again set to use a major sporting event as a means to sportswash its atrocious human rights record."

And she urged Fury and Joshua to speak out on the issue in the build-up to the bout.

Ms Allen said: "A few well-chosen words about human rights from Joshua and Fury would mean a lot to Saudi Arabia's beleaguered human rights defenders, helping to counteract the intended sportswashing effect of this boxing match."