Bob Arum has poured cold water on the potential of a Tyson Fury and Anthony Joshua fight in December, saying the promoter across the table is “f***ing around.”
So far, negotiations for the all-British heavyweight mega-fight have seemed to be progressing smoothly. Both camps have provided regular updates, always keen to point out along the way that, in theory, nothing should stop the fight happening.
Purses have been agreed, the date set, broadcasters are in talks – as fight plans go, this one is well on its way.
All of the above, however, doesn’t convince Top Rank’s Bob Arum. Fury’s US promoter believes that ‘AJ’s team, despite all of the statements to say otherwise, don’t want the fight. He expanded on his thoughts to BoxingScene.com.
“We’ve been exchanging documents with Matchroom. We don’t think that Hearn wants to make that fight. We really don’t think he wants to make that fight. We’re giving him every opportunity to make that fight. And if we can’t make it very shortly, Fury will fight somebody else. We have another opponent lined up.”
Frank Warren, who handles promotion for ‘The Gypsy King’ in the UK, provided an update yesterday with a deadline of the end of this week for everything to be agreed.
Whilst Arum has been letting things be handled on this side of the pond, given that the fight will be staged here and will be watched mostly by UK fans, he’s still not convinced Eddie Hearn is keen on risking another loss on Joshua’s record.
“I think Hearn knows, like most boxing people know, that all things being equal, that Fury will knock Joshua out. That Joshua’s very suspect now and very tentative. And he’s still a draw card, so why would you wanna cash in on your draw card?
So, I don’t think he’s gonna do it. I think he’s just f***in’ around with the Warrens. We talk with the Warrens every day because we’re partners [on Fury], but we’re letting them carry the ball.”
It has to be said that these comments go against the grain of the news that’s being pumped out regularly. Hearn’s latest comments on the fight were positive, citing his heavyweight’s determination to get the fight made as the driving force.
