The ongoing Tyson Fury-Anthony Joshua negotiations for a fight that refuses to materialise has recently seen more mud throwing from both camps. Fury has gone as far to claim that he will forge Joshua’s signature on a fight contract during one of his usual social media tirades.
An offer has apparently been sent, again, that has been strongly refuted to have any seriousness to it by Matchroom and Eddie Hearn.
ProBox TV spoke exclusively to promoter Hearn to get the latest developments on the never ending saga between the two British heavyweight rivals.
“I just think they got nowhere to go.” Hearn stated diplomatically. “I just don’t think they have a plan. We have a plan! We have always had a plan with AJ, August 12th, [then] December. Hopefully Dillian Whyte and then Deontay Wilder. So, I don’t think they know what they are doing, you know? They have gone complete u-turn. It was six months ago they said, if you never fight us now, you will never fight us again! Six months later we are offering you the fight again.”
Hearn threw his hands to the air at the end of his explanation, immediately deflating as he continued to describe the frustrating scenario.
“I just…I don’t know. It’s not really an offer, there is no contract. It’s just, you know what the offer was last time, let's get it done sort of thing.”
Hearn switched back to no-nonsense promoter mode using his chopping hand to display how valid his points were.
“It was like, this is what we are doing, we are fighting August 12th and December. So, that’s our plan. If that doesn’t happen we will talk.”
Dillian Whyte 2 has long been primed as a viable opponent for Joshua. According to Hearn it was next on the line for one his most prized fighters.
“Hopefully.” Hearn said in response too if Whyte was next. “I wouldn’t say he wants too much money, but he wants a lot of money. It’s a big fight, we have to try and respect his wishes. Make the fight work for AJ and make the fight work for us and try and get some middle ground. He’s just focused on winning at the moment. He’s working well with Derrick James and you can expect him in the ring soon.”
Just weeks ago the plans of Saudi Arabian promotion Skill Challenge Entertainment came to light of their ambitious four-man heavyweight tournament involving Fury, Joshua, Wilder and reigning IBF, WBA and WBO world champion Oleksandr Usyk. The Ukrainian has recently signed terms with the promotional company, with Joshua and Wilder open to the suggestion. But is this all just an elaborate pipe dream?
“I’ve done a couple of fights there.” Hearn added. “They have got the money to do whatever they want to do. It is going to take time, everything is going to take time there. But I like the guys there and we have worked well with them, and we will see what their plans are in general for boxing. For us, we are focused on the Wilder fight, if it is a two man tournament we don’t really care. But I do think they have aspirations to do that four man tournament. We shall see.”
