Frank Warren has provided an update on the deal offered by Tyson Fury to face Anthony Joshua, insisting that, for the sake of British boxing, no broadcaster should stop the fight.
Boxing fans know all too well that potential fights often fall through because of broadcasters and promoters. Years of witnessing this happen led some to be cynical that the Tyson Fury and Anthony Joshua fight, pencilled in for December 3, wouldn’t materialise.
Fury is exclusive with BT Sport in the UK and ESPN in America. In the other corner, Joshua has just signed a longterm deal with DAZN. If the fight is to be signed, something’s got to give.
Speaking to SecondsOut, Fury’s promoter addressed the situation, believing that, whilst talks have still to happen, there’s no reason any company would stop the fight from going ahead.
“BT [Sport] have really been good about if we’ve got to get DAZN involved, so really the ball’s in their court now.”
“The two broadcasters are going to have to speak, and obviously BT are going to have to agree to it. I understand that he’s got a deal with DAZN but DAZN the last time allowed his fight to go onto Sky.”
“I personally believe that the TV companies should not stop this fight from happening. How could you stop the biggest fight in god knows how many years in British boxing? Anyone who steps in or causes a problem, hasn’t got British boxing’s best interest at heart.”
“As far as DAZN are concerned, who’s he going to fight next? If he [doesn’t] fight Tyson Fury, that’s a big downgrade for him.”
“They’ve got to sit down and work that out but they’ve done it in the past. First of all, what everybody’s got to realise is this is the Tyson Fury show. Tyson’s the number one heavyweight in the world, it’s his title that’s on the line.”
Warren went on to say that 95% of the terms were already agreed. ‘AJ’ is to get 40% of the net total generated, there’s a rematch clause should he beat Fury, and the WBC belt is on the line.
The contract is currently with the challenger’s team, and Warren pointed out that the clock’s ticking.
“There’s no reason this fight shouldn’t go on. If it doesn’t go on, for any reason, it won’t be from our side.”
“We’ve only got a short window to do this. By the end of this week it’s either on or it’s not. And if it’s not, we’ll move on and they’ll do what they’ve got to do.”
Of course, there’s still the small matter of promoting and selling a mega-fight in time for December, so more news is likely to follow this week. Whether that’s final confirmation or a conflict remains to be seen.