Fury vs Joshua has fallen apart, perhaps forever, after Anthony Joshua went back on his word.
Tyson Fury will not give AJ a shot at his WBC heavyweight title in December after his self-imposed deadline passed.
Both sides hit a wall in contract negotiations when Eddie Hearn said there was no chance the contract submitted by Fury’s team would be signed on Monday.
“The Gypsy King” delivered a deadline for AJ’s ink for the December 3 Battle of Britain. Fury added that if he doesn’t, they won’t fight.
Anthony Joshua Misses Fury 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 admitted that if Fury meets his deadline, the fight is off for now.
Currently, the fight is dead in the water. There was no resurrection unless Joshua went against his promoter and signed today. He didn’t do it despite promising on Sunday that he would.
“I have been signing contracts for years. It’s not in my hands. It’s with the legal team.
“That’s why you hire lawyers. If you know the history of boxing, make sure you have a good understanding of the legal terms.
“That’s why you have good managers and good lawyers. So of course I’m going to sign the contract.
“It’s just with a few lawyers right now,” he added.
AJ did not sign as promised
Despite giving UK fans hope, AJ did not arrive at 5pm
Fury went on a rampage of social media activity before the deadline in an attempt to get Joshua to turn in his paperwork.
“Today is D-Day, people. Are you going to sign the contract, you big idiot, or are you not going to sign it? Fury urged.
“When Wilder sent me the contract for Wilder obe [first fight in 2018]I signed it within 24 hours because I wanted to smash his face in.
“You’ve had the contract for ten days now, bitch. You haven’t signed it yet. If it ain’t done by 5pm today, GK [The Gypsy King] it is improving.”
tv talk
Matchroom Boxing and Warren state that they have met with BT Sport and DAZN to discuss how the Fury vs Joshua event will work between the broadcasters.
However, Hearn’s statement that Joshua would not sign the deal could have derailed those plans.
Fury made good on his threat to cancel. Now, all boxing fans in the UK have been teased again with nothing to show for it despite two blockbusters lining up with a rematch spawned by a two-fight deal.
The whole saga is getting as tedious as Mayweather vs. Pacquiao for them. With many failed attempts to make the fight, it seems more and more likely that the fight will not be made.
Fury certainly won’t offer Joshua another chance. He is also expected to retire soon.
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 will fight Mahmoud Charr, leaving Usyk vs Wilder a delightful prospect in 2023.
He told Charr, “If he [AJ] don’t sign today, you’re in the big G. And you can show them how a real man shoots.”
Frank Warren can start work on Fury vs Charr on December 3 in Wales. The first thing he will have to do is persuade the WBC to sanction the fight.
Charr is rated nineteen and needs to be in the top fifteen.
The views expressed in this article are the views of Phil Jay.
WBN editor Phil Jay has over ten years of boxing news experience. Additionally, he follows WBN on Facebook @officialworldboxingnews, Instagram and Twitter @worldboxingnews.
