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The clock for a showdown between WBC heavyweight champion Tyson Fury and Anthony Joshua is ticking fast.
According to Fury’s UK promoter, Frank Warren of Queensberry Promotions, he needs Joshua’s team to provide an answer by “the end of this week.” Joshua is endorsed by Eddie Hearn of Matchroom Boxing and 258 MGT.
Warren, in a recent interview, expressed optimism that a deal could be struck between the two sides in what would be one of the biggest British boxing matches in recent history. Fury called Joshua out for a fight earlier this month and presented a number of terms, which Joshua later agreed to. Queensberry subsequently sent a draft contract to Joshua’s team last week.
Warren, however, emphasized that Fury has been more than generous with his demands in trying to fight Joshua over the line and that if, for whatever reason, a deal cannot be reached, it would not be Fury and Co.’s fault.
“This is the Tyson Fury show,” Warren told SecondsOut.com. “Tyson is the number one heavyweight in the world. It is his title at stake for him. AJ is ranked number six right now…and that’s what he is. But we’re doing everything we can, I’m sorry, Tyson is doing everything he can to make this happen. Let’s make it happen. There is no reason why this fight should not continue.
“If it doesn’t continue, for whatever reason, it won’t be on our side. If he doesn’t continue, I can’t believe that AJ, after what he came out and said he wants to fight, could be his fault (Fury). So make it happen. We only have a small window to do this. By the end of this week we need this: is it on or not. And if not, we’ll move on. And they will do what they have to do.”
“If it doesn’t happen, don’t look at us,” Warren warned. “Don’t blame us.”
Warren was also asked about one of the key issues involved in the negotiations between Fury and Joshua: broadcast rights. Fury has exclusive broadcast deals with BT in the UK and ESPN in the US, while Joshua has his own exclusive partnership with DAZN. Despite the seemingly considerable issues at stake, Warren is optimistic that both sides can come to some kind of agreement.
“I think the TV companies shouldn’t stop this fight from happening and I don’t think they will,” Warren said. “How were you able to stop the biggest fight in God knows how many years in British boxing? You can’t stop that from happening. Anyone who intervenes or causes a problem does not have the best interests of British boxing in mind. And the reason I say that is that money is not the problem. Usually it’s the problem, it’s the money. Money is not the problem.
“So it’s about the TV companies working together and I can’t believe that no executive, and I know from BT’s perspective there would be no problem, no executive would stand in the way of this happening. If they do, how can they be in the boxing business?
Joshua is coming off a points loss to Oleksandr Usyk in their heavyweight unification rematch last month in Saudi Arabia. Fury last fought in the spring, a sixth-round knockout of countryman and mandatory challenger Dillian Whyte.
