Anthony Joshua accepts terms for heavyweight fight with Tyson Fury

Briton's management team ready to finalise December 3 fight

Oleksandr Usyk after retaining his world heavyweight titles in a split decision against Anthony Joshua at the King Abdullah Sport City Stadium in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia. PA

Oleksandr Usyk celebrates winning his fight against Anthony Joshua. Action Images

Oleksandr Usyk after winning in Jeddah. PA

Oleksandr Usyk reacts after his victory. PA

Anthony Joshua speaks to the crowd following his defeat against Oleksandr Usyk in Jeddah. Getty

Anthony Joshua and Oleksandr Usyk touch gloves at the end of the fight. PA

Oleksandr Usyk celebrates with his belts and his team. Getty

Oleksandr Usyk celebrates after retaining his world heavyweight titles. PA

Anthony Joshua looks angry. Getty

Oleksandr Usyk celebrates with the flag of Ukraine. Getty

Oleksandr Usyk after winning his fight against Anthony Joshua. Action Images

Oleksandr Usyk after winning his fight against Anthony Joshua. Action Images

Anthony Joshua on the front foot against Oleksandr Usyk. PA

Anthony Joshua and Oleksandr Usyk trade punches. Getty

Anthony Joshua evades a right. Getty

Oleksandr Usyk after receiving a low blow. Action Images

Oleksandr Usyk lands a right on Anthony Joshua. Getty

Anthony Joshua and Oleksandr Usyk in action at the King Abdullah Sport City Stadium in Jeddah. PA

The ring is cleaned between rounds. Reuters

Anthony Joshua evades a punch from Oleksandr Usyk. Getty

Anthony Joshua with a body shot. Action Images

Oleksandr Usyk throws a right. Action Images

Oleksandr Usyk in action against Anthony Joshua. Action Images

Anthony Joshua made a low-key entrance at King Abdullah Sports City Arena in Jeddah. Getty

Anthony Joshua and promoter Eddie Hearn before the fight. PA

Anthony Joshua has accepted terms for a proposed world heavyweight title fight with Tyson Fury, his management team announced on Tuesday.

Fury, the WBC champion, made the offer to his British rival last week, saying he would be willing to offer Joshua 40 percent of the purse in order to seal the contest.

Joshua's management team, 258, said on Tuesday they had accepted Fury's offer on behalf of Joshua and his promoter, Matchroom, and were awaiting the champion's response.

They wrote on social media in a message retweeted by Joshua: "258 and @MatchroomBoxing can confirm, on behalf of @anthonyjoshua, that we accepted all terms presented to us by Fury's team for a fight December 3.

"Due to the Queen's passing (death of Queen Elizabeth II), it was agreed to halt all communication. We are awaiting a response."

Fury made the offer for a "Battle of Britain" bout with Joshua after it emerged that rival champion Oleksandr Usyk had ruled out fighting again until early next year.

Joshua, 32, suffered his second straight defeat to the Ukrainian in Saudi Arabia last month and had planned to make a relatively low-key comeback.

Responding last week to Fury's offer, Joshua's promoter Eddie Hearn expressed caution, questioning whether Fury was "serious" about the bout.

The unbeaten Fury announced he was retiring on his 34th birthday last month, having previously performed a number of U-turns over his future in the sport.

But in a video posted on social media last week he appeared to confirm he had reversed his decision again as he challenged Joshua to a showdown.

Former champion Joshua fell to 24-3 with his latest defeat to Usyk, who retained his WBO, IBF and WBA belts, but a clash with Fury would spark huge interest in Britain.