Anthony Joshua refuses to sign a contract submitted by Tyson Fury in its current form for a British showdown on December 3.
AJ received the paperwork after agreeing to initial terms last week. However, promoter Eddie Hearn says they are not happy.
Despite Fury offering contracts to Deontay Wilder and Dillian Whyte who both recently signed, one of which was involved with Hearn, this time, something is breaking a signing.
Anthony Joshua refuses to sign contract with Tyson Fury
Hearn explained to IFL TV: “We have all agreed to work hard on the contracts. Listen, we got the contract last Friday or Saturday. But it was everywhere.
“Since then, we have received calls as recently as yesterday to put it in the right place.”
Fury asked Joshua to sign the agreement publicly on Friday. The “Gypsy King” labeled Joshua “a sausage” for not putting pen to paper.
However, the Matchroom Boxing promoter questions Fury’s actions.
“Just from his message, I don’t know. I think they want us to run out of time for a bit. But we are not going to sign a contract that is not in the correct format and that is not in the best interest of Anthony Joshua.”
tv delay
On what the delay is, it was then revealed that the Pay Per View TV deal for the clash of the UK’s top two heavyweights was an issue.
“That’s not for people to say, ‘What are you asking too much for?’ while terms are agreed. We agreed to those terms.
“But now we have to enter into a negotiating position with the broadcasters.”
Hearn isn’t sure of a deal. He believes WBC champion Fury will now defend his title against Mahmoud Charr, as World Boxing News stated earlier in the day.
“Honestly, hand on heart, what I think Tyson Fury is going to do is say, ‘oh, this is taking too long.’ The fight is on December 3.”
Even though there are only ten weeks to go until fight night, Hearn is acting on behalf of Anthony Joshua’s best interests. He believes that the clock is ticking on the completion of the contract.
“The fight, by the way, can sell itself in twenty-four hours. We don’t have time constraints as if it had to be done today or tomorrow.
“It has to be correct. We want the fight. AJ is in camp for that fight. Me alone, when I see things like that [Tyson Fury sausage video]I liked it when everyone was quiet because I thought they really wanted to fight.
“So he leaves today [with the sausage video]. I don’t know. We are still moving forward, hoping that the fight will be done.
Fury vs Charr
“My gut feeling is that Tyson Fury is preparing to fight Mahmoud Charr, and this is all just [a smokescreen]but I hope I’m wrong.”
On possibly resolving the television sticking point, Hearn concluded: “The way I read it is that Matchroom and Queensberry are doing everything they can to try and make this fight.
“It’s complicated. DAZN and BT have yet to get involved. And that’s coming or starting.”
The hope was that Fury vs Joshua would take place at Cardiff’s Principality Stadium. Fury’s team sent a 60-40 offer to Joshua’s management company at the time of the Queen’s passing.
Despite WBA, WBO and IBF ruler Oleksandr Usyk offering to introduce his return to the ring and fight at the end of the year, Fury has shown no interest in opening talks about a possible undisputed clash.
Usyk had initially wanted to take some time off after beating Joshua in a rematch last month in Saudi Arabia.
Fury’s promoter, Frank Warren, went straight for two-time world champion Joshua. However, Charr has been constantly hanging around in the background and telling Fury that he was going to get hit on the held date.
It remains to be seen if Tyson Fury’s December 3 fight offer is extended to Charr outside of the public eye.
Disappointed UK fans
Right now, fans want Fury to take on his British rival. Having two fights hanging in the balance doesn’t do anyone any favors.
However, seventy days is not a good time to prepare for such an important UK PPV match. Therefore, all signs point to Fury vs Charr.
Fury and his team will require a special sanction from the WBC. Charr only entered the WBC ratings at 19 this month despite not fighting since May.
Perhaps it was a clerical error, and Charr could break into the top fifteen in time to face Fury later this year.
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