_2.jpg?fit=1024%2C1024&ssl=1)
Top Rank CEO Bob Arum, who co-promotes WBC heavyweight champion Tyson Fury, has serious doubts about the desire of Anthony Joshua’s handlers to finalize a year-end showdown.
Earlier this week, Fury threw a 60-40 money split at Joshua to fight in a year-end clash.
Joshua is coming off back-to-back decision losses to WBO, IBF, IBO and WBA champion Oleksandr Usyk.
Fury had initially tried to secure a fight with Usyk, but the unified champion is reeling from last month’s rematch with Joshua and plans to take off for the rest of the year.
Arum isn’t convinced Joshua will put his name on a contract.
“I really don’t think the Joshua people are looking forward to doing the fight right now,” Arum told Sky Sports. “Because he’s been through a devastating loss and I think conventionally Joshua is going to want a couple of light touches to get back in the swing of things.
“Our guy, Tyson Fury, wants to fight this year. I tried to see if we could get Usyk this year and apparently they don’t want to do it until February. We’re going to try to get an opponent for Tyson Fury.” – Joshua or someone else – and make sure he gets in the ring this year.
“Eddie Hearn is just talking. Eddie Hearn, if he wanted to do the fight, he knows me well enough and he knows I’m here, he knows the Warrens. We haven’t really heard from Eddie Hearn; he’s really good at making statements to the press. and television, but he’s not, I don’t think, eager to do this fight.
“I’ve been in boxing for a long time and the fact that Eddie and Joshua wanted this fight is, to me, incomprehensible. It makes no sense. If I mess up and they decide they want it, they know where to find it.” us and call, and stop talking to the press and talk to us and see if we can fix it.
Hearn has disputed Arum’s comments, stating that he is actively speaking with Fury’s other co-promoter, Queensberry Promotions.
“I’m not too sure what Bob Arum has talked about, but I’ve had several phone calls with George Warren and email exchanges. The last one was a couple of minutes ago. AJ just finished his fight with Usyk. He has a couple bumps and bruises, nothing major,” Hearn said.
“[Frank Warren’s promotional company] Queensberry has a date of December 17, and that is our preferred date to make the fight. We are in ongoing discussions with Queensberry and I expect you will see how it all plays out on social media and various media outlets around the world.”
