Frank Warren has given a big update on the proposed light heavyweight showdown between British rivals Anthony Yarde and Joshua Buatsi.
Yarde was hotly-tipped to fight on the Dmitry Bivol vs. Artur Beterbiev card in two months time, which features the Queensberry versus Matchroom 5 on 5.
However, it instead seems that the hard-hitting light-heavyweight title hopeful will headline a show in London in a domestic dust-up with Buatsi.
Yarde bounced back from a second unsuccessful world title challenge against Beterbiev with two early stoppage wins against Jorge Silva and Marko Nikolic within the last six months and has been linked to a clash with both Callum Smith and Buatsi ever since.
Although, recent reports suggested that the Buatsi fight is close, rumours to which the Ghanaian-born Londoner responded to and denied on social media.
‘No offer yet. Still waiting. You all know who I’ve asked for.”
“Been ready to go. Waiting on @mranthonyyarde @Queensberry.”
Meanwhile, speaking to BoxNation, Warren shockingly revealed that Buatsi’s side of the deal is signed and it is in fact his own fighter and his trainer who are holding up negotiations.
“He has had an offer and they have accepted the offer. That’s where we are [at the moment] and in the meantime we are trying to sort a deal out with Anthony [Yarde].
“We are dealing with his [Yarde’s] management and I hope we do [agree terms]. It is a matter of everybody understanding what they bring to the table.
“Everybody has got their different views and I’ve seen a couple of videos that have been put out, certainly one that has been put out by Tunde [Ajayi] that I got really p***ed off with.
“I thought it was really disrespectful to everybody that he mentioned. If they want the [Buatsi] fight, it is there to be done.”
Both Ben Shalom and Yarde’s team have previously expressed hopes that a fight with Buatsi could be staged at a stadium in London in June, but that may be dependent on whether Boxxer or Queensberry stage the event.