After another week of claims and counter-claims, promoter Eddie Hearn has insisted the undisputed heavyweight championship clash between rival champions Tyson Fury and Anthony Joshua is happening with an announcement expected next week.
Fury’s US promoter Bob Arum teased that the fight was “dead in the water” last week with a delay in the site fee agreement holding up the bout’s finalisation.
A group in Saudi Arabia has offered a reported $150 million to host Fury-Joshua in the Middle East nation in early August and the long form agreement, regarding that site fee, is now being reviewed by lawyers on both sides.
“All sides’ lawyers have got to go through that and make sure they’re happy with it. But we’re all systems go,” Hearn told Sky Box Office. “This fight is on, this fight is happening. As I told everyone last week, back and forwards with the drafts. I believe you’ll get an announcement next week. I don’t know what else to tell you.
“It’s a process that has to go through our legal team. Obviously from their side, that’s three or four other parties. Their individual lawyers want to look at it as well. By tomorrow evening, everyone’s comments will be back on the long-form agreement.
“I remember with Mayweather-Pacquiao, it went on, and on, and on. That fight happened when those guys weren’t in their prime. Right now, Tyson Fury and Anthony Joshua are in the absolute prime of their career. You will get this fight next, and you will get it for the undisputed world championship. We cannot move any quicker.”