Anthony Joshua has uncovered Tyson Fury’s deception by agreeing to a December 3 fight date for an all-British heavyweight title fight.
Joshua’s management team announced out of the blue after Fury fell silent due to The Queen’s passing.
The revelation came a day after Fury had said that Joshua should accept the offer.
Fury vs. Joshua Update
AJ’s 258 said: Joshua vs Fury Update: 258 and Matchroom Boxing can confirm, on behalf of Anthony Joshua, that we have accepted all of the terms presented to us by the Fury team for a fight on December 3 last Friday.
“Due to the death of the Queen, it was agreed to suspend all communication. We are waiting for a response.”
Fury had given Joshua an ultimatum after his rival’s UK promoter, Eddie Hearn, said he would not fight until December 17.
“The Gypsy King” must now get the ball rolling in a Fury vs Joshua battle at the Principality Stadium in Wales or risk the wrath of British fans.
Prior to AJ’s acceptance, American promoter Bob Arum accused Hearn and Joshua of not wanting the fight.
On Thursday, the Top Rank boss, who was in the UK for the canceled Claressa Shields vs Savannah Marshall event in London, spoke about an offer made by Fury for late November or early December.
Bob Arum
Arum added his views after Fury’s UK promoter Frank Warren said his man doesn’t want to fight on Joshua’s reported preferred date of December 17.
Fury wants to finish his next event to face Oleksandr Usyk in February 2023. The deadline is December 3, with a deadline for Joshua to agree to last week.
No agreement was reached, leading WBN to declare the fight dead on the water. Turns out Joshua contacted them a day after the deadline.
Frank Warren then clarified that Fury’s Thursday deadline was not in effect despite “The Gypsy King” stipulation.
This is certainly good news for fight fans in the UK.
Joshua wanted a rematch clause to include a 60-40 split in his favor if he gave Fury the same right in the first meeting. It is unknown if Joshua fulfilled his wish on the terms he agreed to.
Listen to the contact for Fury vs Joshua
However, it is a far cry from what Arum said Thursday.
“I really don’t think the Joshua people are looking forward to doing the fight right now,” Arum told Sky Sports. “Because he has been through a devastating loss.
“I think conventionally Joshua will want a couple of light touches to get back into the swing of things.
“Our boy, Tyson Fury, wants to fight this year. I tried to see if we could get Usyk this year. Apparently they don’t want to do it until February.
“We are going to try to get an opponent for Tyson Fury: Joshua or someone else. To make sure he gets in the ring this year.”
On Hearn, Arum added: “Eddie Hearn is just talking. Eddie Hearn. If he wanted to fight, he knows me well enough and he knows I’m here.
Meet the Warrens. We haven’t really heard from Eddie Hearn. He is very good at making statements to the press and television.
“But he’s not, I don’t think, looking forward to doing this fight.”
Fury had previously berated Joshua with videos on social media. One said: “This is it now, AJ, don’t panic now.
“Take the fight and let’s give the fans what they want.”
Usyk in 2023
Regarding the Usyk fight, Arum said it would happen in the first months of 2023.
“I spoke again yesterday with Usyk’s manager [Egis Klimas], who said, “please don’t rush us. We will do it in the first quarter of next year.”
The WBC released its September ratings earlier in the day to add more to the Fury vs Joshua drama. They rated Joshua a six to give him a rating high enough to challenge Fury for the title.
WBN editor Phil has over ten years of boxing news experience. He follows WBN on Facebook @officialworldboxingnews and Twitter @worldboxingnews.
