TYSON FURY is ‘one million per cent’ sure his summer superfight with Anthony Joshua will be officially announced today.
But in a trademark twist, Fury warned he will WALK AWAY if it is not.
The undefeated WBC heavyweight champion declared: “I have been told there are a few good offers on the table, from a few different countries, from some very rich people, so I am confident.
“Saudi is involved, I will say that much, but there are also some dark horses involved who have offered some serious money.
“I am one million per cent sure it will happen and we’ll know where and when.
“We both want it and we will give each other a good hiding and lay it all on the line.
“It is exciting for me because I have always been quite sceptical about it all.”
However, in his interview with YouTube channel Behind the Gloves, he added: “If I don’t know anything by Tuesday I will just move on because it has been a long time in the making.”
Team AJ believe they have hustled Fury, 32, into the biggest fight in British boxing history begrudgingly.
Joshua’s promoter Eddie Hearn has tirelessly talked up the clash and scouted for venues while 31-year-old Joshua has been busier on social media than ever before.
The Gypsy King’s army has done the opposite, with promoters Frank Warren and Bob Arum going radio silent and the WBC champ’s father John repeatedly claiming the fight was miles off announcing.
Fury has two big-money fights left on his contract with US promoters Top Rank and American broadcasters ESPN – where he could have collected around £25million for fighting a couple of cherry-picked opponents.
But the very-public work and promotion AJ and Hearn have launched has helped lure the giant into the showdown.
After AJ posted yet another social media update about a guaranteed venue making a concrete offer, a source close to the talks told SunSport: “It is a massively positive bit of news on the event now happening.
“This fight would never have been made without the work Eddie has put in.
“If Fury had not taken the fight, after all the work put in – and media attention drummed up – it would have looked pretty embarrassing.”
In fairness to hall-of-fame promoter Warren, who guided Fury’s return to the support after a doping ban and mental health breakdown, he has insisted his uncharacteristic silence has been protocol after the two rival teams signed a non-disclosure agreement while negotiations went on.
But Joshua’s unusually candid social media posts definitely seemed to have barged plans along rapidly, just weeks after Fury talked about taking on an alternative opponent.
On Sunday night, AJ wrote: “Positive news this evening! I’m lacing up my running boots rn!
“@258MGT and @Matchroomboxing have received the first OFFICIAL offer to host the Undisputed Heavyweight Championship Of The WORLD!
“I will be victorious God Willing! No place to hide now! I’M COMING!”
If both fighters agree to take the red-hot rivalry to the Middle East, they could face temperatures of up to 110 degrees.
The bout will have to happen inside and any Brits travelling to catch the action will struggle to spend a second outside.
But the biggest site fee was always likely to come from the petro-dollar kingdom and the region being around two hours ahead will be a huge boost to the potential pay-per-view sales that Hearn believes could be a record-demolishing 2.2million.
AJ took his 2019 rematch win over Andy Ruiz to the Diriyah on just a few weeks notice and seemed to strike up a close relationship with the royals there who stumped up the funds.
But Fury is no stranger to Saudi lucre after he wrestled for the WWE in Riyadh in October that same year.
Source: Boxing - thesun.co.uk
