Barry Hearn, founder of Matchroom Sport, feels confident that a 2021 unification will take place between heavyweight champions Anthony Joshua and Tyson Fury.

The UK currently has a full grasp on the heavyweight ranks. Joshua, who Hearn guides, holds the WBA, IBO, WBO and IBF world titles, while Fury is the WBC's world champion.

“Anthony Joshua is probably the easiest boxer I have ever worked with, he literally will fight anybody and he is very keen on unifying the titles and Tyson has the missing belt,” Barry Hearn told Betfred .

“Tyson is not afraid of anyone, at the same time, and he knows if he beats Joshua he will be an even bigger global figure. The good news about this pile-up of global sport events is that there will be competition for airtime when sport returns and people will not pay for tick-over contests. I think we have an excellent chance of seeing that fight, I would say 50-50 it is this year and, if it is not this year, then it’s 95-5 for early 2021.”

Both boxers have other contracted assignments in 2020.

Joshua is heading to a mandatory defense against Kubrat Pulev, and Fury is on pace to a trilogy fight with Deontay Wilder.

The coronavirus pandemic has pushed back the initial dates involved.

Joshua vs. Pulev was scheduled for June 20, and then pushed back to July 25. It appears the fight might get delayed even further. Fury-Wilder III was going to land on July 18, before being pushed back to a date in October.

Joshua recently challenged Fury to fight him, to set down the top fighter in the weight class.

“Come fight me, you really want to say you’re number one, come fight me,” Joshua told Sky Sports. “Let’s get it on, I’ve got the rest of the belts so it only makes sense.”