Anthony Joshua v Tyson Fury looms as groundbreaking broadcast deal to be signed ahead of blockbuster British showdown

Could we finally see Fury vs AJ this year?

Simply: Yes.

Before the Saudi takeover of boxing – led by Turki Alalshikh, would we have seen Fury vs Francis Ngannou, AJ vs Ngannou, Deontay Wilder vs Joseph Parker, Frank Warren and Eddie Hearn working together and shaking hands for photos?

Simply: No.

The rules, ratings, sanctioning bodies, and promotional and broadcast disputes are irrelevant when so much money is invested in prize fights.

How would this work?

It looks like the winner of Fury vs Usyk on May 18th will fight AJ as soon as possible.

There is a rematch clause in the current deal for the WBC champion of Britain and the WBA, IBF and WBO king of Ukraine to meet and decide the first undisputed ruler in 25 years.

But it seems certain that the belts will fragment afterwards – with a series of mandatory challengers due to their break into the four separate belts – so the clamor for AJ against the winner may be greater than the demand for a repeat for fewer belts.

Where would this happen?

It seems like all the big fights are going to happen in Saudi Arabia now.

But don’t rule out a possible clash between Fury and Ngannou at Wembley Stadium.

It seems the Saudis are keen to eventually hold shows in the UK and this fight, in the home of football, would be a first.

If Usyk takes down the Gypsy King, the excitement for him to face AJ for a third time will be much less intense.

Why this time?

It feels like we’ve twice come close to seeing the showdown, but there have simply been too many obstacles and disputes in the way – similar to how AJ vs Wilder hasn’t happened yet.

But with Alalshikh now making Hearn’s Matchroom and Warren’s Queensberry play nice and letting Sky Sports, TNT and DAZN share the shows, there’s a lot less to fight about in the boardroom and a lot to fight about in the ring.

And if Fury beats Usyk and legitimately demands a huge percentage of Joshua’s delayed meeting, then the Saudis will have the money and influence to hand him 99 percent of the pie – to massage his ego and bank balance – and hand AJ just as much extra batter as needed to keep everything sweet.

Who wins?

If Fury sets up an AJ showdown by defeating Oleksandr Usyk – the maths and statistics make it clear that only a maniac would back Joshua to triumph in the all-English showdown.

Usyk dominated AJ in two one-sided fights on foreign soil.

The Watford man has enjoyed a rise in form and respect since linking up with new trainer Ben Davison, but a 20st 6ft 9in Fury – who has just killed the southpaw with gaping teeth – would be nigh-invincible.

But in any big football derby or cup final, form is often thrown out the window. And perhaps a hungry and rejuvenated AJ might be too much for an undisputed and accomplished Fury.