The CEOs of Top Rank and Matchroom Boxing respectively are sounding off on the Tyson Fury and Anthony Joshua rumored fight - and both have opinions on the matter.
Here is what we know. Both fighters have agreed upon a 60-40 split in Tyson Fury’s favor, with a tentative target date of December 3rd in Cardiff, Wales, as the location for the fight.
As with everything in boxing, it is more talk, and less action. As we were worried at one point that Fury would face Manuel Charr.
Here is what Bob Arum, Top Rank’s CEO, and one of Tyson Fury’s co-promoters, had to say.
“Eddie Hearn is stalling everything, because he doesn’t want the fight to happen, and why doesn’t he want the fight to happen,” questioned Arum when speaking to Talk Sport. “Because Joshua’s lost three out of his last five fights and he figures to lose again if he fights Tyson Fury and so Eddie is in effect being an impediment.”
“I don’t know of any issues, he sends a draft and then Frank and George [Warren] reply and then we don’t hear from Eddie for days, he’s stalling until it dies of its own volition. I don’t think Joshua is part of that,” stated Arum. “I think Joshua for whatever reason wants the fight to happen, I know Tyson Fury does.”
For most oddsmakers this fight would see Tyson Fury as the betting favorite, and Arum suggest that this might be an elaborate marketing ploy to keep Joshua’s name in the mix, prior to another fight announcement.
“You can’t make a fight unless somebody agrees to the contract and if you put him in a torture chamber, he still wouldn’t agree to the contract. There’s no issues, if there was some issues then I could see it but there are no issues,” said Arum. “Get in the goddamn room with the Warrens and sit down and finalize the contract and let’s get it signed. I don’t blame Tyson Fury for getting upset at what is happening.”
