Fury vs. Joshua: Tyson Fury will not fight Anthony Joshua in December after both sides hit a brick wall in contract negotiations.
“The Gypsy King” gave a deadline of Monday for AJ to sign the agreement for December 3. Fury added that if he doesn’t, they won’t fight.
Tyson Fury gives Anthony Joshua a deadline
“I was optimistic about three weeks ago, but it shouldn’t take that long to sign a contract,” Fury said sitting ringside at Joe Joyce vs. Joseph Parker.
“We’ll know by Monday anyway because if it’s not done by Monday, then I’m going to move on. I’m not expecting a guy who has lost three of his last five fights.
“He’s lucky I’m giving him a world title shot. I don’t mind throwing him a bone, but I don’t want them to start dictating shit to me.”
“He is a guest at my party, my rules.
“So if you want to play the game, come to the banquet and have a seat.”
Fury’s demand was met with a firm no from Joshua’s promoter, Eddie Hearn.
Fury vs Joshua deadline can’t be met
After initially stating that the deal was “all over the place,” Hearn has since admitted that if Fury meets his deadline, the fight is definitely off for now.
Currently, the fight is dead in the water. It seems there is no resurrection.
Fury promoter Frank Warren is a bit more optimistic than either Fury or Hearn. The Londoner believes Monday’s talks may prove fruitful.
“Hopefully we can get through it on Monday,” Warren told the BBC.
“I don’t think there are many problems. The only thing that I think can sustain it right now is the broadcasters.
“AJ said he wanted the fight [two-fight deal]. We have accepted the financial terms. [60-40 purse split with 50-50 rematch]. We have told them that they can participate in all the contracts, establish the budgets for the billboard, everything.”
Optimistic
Warren’s son George had previously told Sky Sports: “We’re still talking. Everything at the moment is very friendly.
“We are having fresh conversations this week. But we are hopeful that we will move on. We are all working hard to make this happen.
“Just a little more. I’m not going to put a timeline on it. We need to realistically know what we’re doing, what Tyson is doing.
“There is no if, but, or maybe, Tyson will fight later this year. As for the schedule and time scale, for both fighters, it looks like it could work.
“As I say, we are talking. Everything is very friendly; everything is going well so far.
“Fingers crossed we have some good news for British fight fans very soon.”
Matchroom Boxing and Warren meet with BT Sport and DAZN to discuss how the Fury vs Joshua event will work between broadcasters. However, Hearn’s statement that Joshua will not sign the deal on Monday negates further talk.
If Fury doesn’t follow through on his threat, it will look like he’s bowing down to Joshua. Every boxing fan in the UK knows that this is not how Fury does business.
Fury vs Usyk will not happen
On whether he could turn to Oleksandr Usyk, Fury insists the unified heavyweight champion from Ukraine is not interested.
“We offered them the date of December 17 in Saudi Arabia for the undisputed world heavyweight championship. Everyone wanted that date.
“Usyk said that he was injured and that he is not ready until next year.
And now he says I’m afraid of him. The little middleweight of the shit house. I’ll put my fist through his face.
A slight contradiction from Fury, who declared he could not fight on December 17 when discussing with Joshua an alternative venue at the Principality Stadium in Cardiff. Nonetheless, Usyk’s manager Egis Klimas said the two-weight world title holder would be available in 2022.
The WBO, IBF and WBA belt holder said he would cut his family’s time short to fight Fury. If not, he will turn his attention to a fight with former WBC ruler Deontay Wilder next year.
Usyk is riding high after defeating Joshua for the second time in August.
However, Fury seems much more likely to fight Mahmoud Charr, which leaves Usyk vs Wilder a delightful prospect in 2023.
The views expressed in this article are the views of Phil Jay.
WBN editor Phil Jay has over ten years of boxing news experience. He follows WBN on Facebook @officialworldboxingnews, Instagram and Twitter @worldboxingnews.
