The year is coming to a close and the biggest fight being discussed for 2021 is a full division unification between heavyweight world champions Tyson Fury and Anthony Joshua.

The respective camps of both boxers are in active discussions to finalize a two-fight agreement.

Due to the coronavirus pandemic, both fighters saw action one time in 2020.

Fury captured the WBC title in February with a seven round stoppage of Deontay Wilder in their rematch in Las Vegas. Joshua returned to the ring earlier this month, when he knocked out IBF mandatory challenger Kubrat Pulev in the ninth round.

Fury, with his undefeated record, is the solid favorite in the fight.

Former super middleweight champion Carl Froch regards Fury as being too good of a boxer - and believes an early night is the only way Joshua can come away victorious.

"I think the only way that Anthony Joshua can win this fight is by stoppage. He can't outbox Fury, who is too good at range. He throws punches from all angles and he's so awkward," Froch told Sky Sports.

"But Joshua is an Olympic gold medallist with strong fundamentals and he's got combination punches with real aggression. If he produces the same finishing instinct that he's shown in past fights, then he can beat Fury.

"AJ can get him out of there, I think he can, because you saw bursts of his aggression in the Kubrat Pulev fight. If AJ maintains that, there's a chance he could stop him, but the problem is, if he doesn't stop Fury then he's going to lose on points."

Retired middleweight contender Matthew Macklin is on the same page as Froch. He expects Fury to use his boxing ability to pile up the points to a decision win.

"I think Fury wins on points. I don't believe he will attempt the same aggressive tactics that he showed against Wilder. AJ is a much better fighter than Wilder. He maybe doesn't hit quite as hard with one punch, but he still hits hard enough," Macklin said.

"He will look to outbox AJ, rather than do what he did against Wilder in the second fight. AJ is a good boxer - he showed that in the rematch win over Andy Ruiz Jr - but Fury is a top, top boxer. He's got an excellent jab, got better angles, his movement is excellent. I think he'll outbox him."