TYSON FURY’S undisputed blockbuster fight against Anthony Joshua is ‘dead in the water’ according to the Gypsy King’s US promoter Bob Arum.
Both fighters had signed their deals for the £108million heavyweight showdown.
It was then a case of sorting a date and venue – with Joshua’s promoter Eddie Hearn recently claiming it was a ‘done deal’ and disputing Arum’s earlier claims of problems.
A July or August fight in Saudi Arabia was believed to be the chosen way forward.
But now Arum, speaking to The Telegraph says the fight between the pair this year is OFF – and says both boxers should take on other opponents first.
The 89-year-old said: “It will take months for the Saudis to do their due diligence on such a huge deal.
“It is not just a site fee, there are ancillary demands from the Saudis stretching into the broadcast deals and other things, it could take months for it all to play out.
“It could even take until 2022 the way it looks right now.
“The fight in July or August is dead in the water as far as we are concerned.
“The two fighters need to go and have other fights this summer while the negotiations for that fight in the Middle East conclude.”
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That could open up the possibility of Fury having the trilogy fight against Deontay Wilder – he has been involved in the mediation process after Wilder lodged a complaint to bag that bout.
Arum went on to describe Hearn saying it is a ‘done deal’ as ‘absurd’, and revealed that Fury is ‘fuming about it and is refusing to keep waiting’.
But contradictory to what Arum is saying, The Athletic is reporting that ‘a site deal worth more than $150 million is expected to be completed this weekend’.
It adds that Riyadh will host the heavyweight clash.
Arum’s latest words might not sit well with Hearn, who has continually insisted things are on track for the two Brits to collide this summer.
The Matchroom boss previously told talkSPORT: “It’s definitely taking a little bit longer than we anticipated, both guys have accepted the deal that’s come in from the Middle East, we’re papering that deal.
“It’s not as easy as just a 24-hour turnaround of a long-form agreement for a fight of this magnitude.
“Bob Arum said, ‘Eddie Hearn, he’s run out of time’. We’re supposed to be partners on this fight.
“The only one I see doing any work on this fight at all is me. And I won’t stop until we’ve got the fight made.
“So we’re on the verge. We have an agreement, we have a signed contract, we have a site agreement that’s been accepted and now we put it in a long-form agreement and you get an announcement next week.”
Despite the apparent uncertainty, Fury is continuing to prepare for the possibility of fighting Joshua.
The 32-year-old uploaded some sparring footage wearing tight red shorts, writing alongside: “Practice makes perfect, imagine @anthonyjoshua face getting smashed up with theses clean rights.”
Fury had recently vowed to QUIT in the corner if his fight with Joshua goes past three rounds – such is his confidence in an early night.
But he might not even get that chance if Arum is correct in what he is saying.
Source: Boxing - thesun.co.uk
