ANTHONY JOSHUA’s Battle of Britain with Tyson Fury fell through due to “complications” with his sponsors and promoters.
AJ was on course to face his long-time rival in a shock December dust-up before a breakdown in talks after Fury’s self-imposed deadline.
WBC heavyweight champ Fury will now defend his title on December 3 in a trilogy fight with Derek Chisora, who claims Joshua’s hands were contractually tied.
He told Sky Sports: “AJ could not take the fight because there were so many complications with sponsors and promoters.
“The fighters always want to fight, just fight, but the complications come from the business people around them who get in the way.
“The managers and promoters get in the way, they make it difficult. Even this fight and contract was a headache stressing me out.
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“People always think making a big fight is easy but it’s always such a headache.”
Fury has repeatedly thrown verbal jabs at Joshua since their showdown fell apart, so much so Chisora believes his pal is occupying a big space in The Gypsy King’s head.
Del Boy said: “AJ is living in Tyson’s head rent-free.
“Tyson wakes up every day thinking about AJ and cannot do an interview without mentioning AJ.
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“AJ is off living his life, doing his own thing. I don’t know why Tyson keeps talking about AJ.”
Fury and Chisora went back and forth over social media for weeks before their shock trilogy was confirmed.
But following the confirmation of their third tussle, Fury – who the pair’s first two meetings handily – doesn’t have a bad word to say about his old pal.
He said: “I’m not gonna sit here and call Chisora names.
“I respect him. I’ve got nothing bad to say about Derek; he’s a good fighting man, and he brings his A game every time.
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“In my reign right now, I’m reigning supreme. I’ll beat him, and then I’ll beat the little middleweight guy.
“I’m gonna go home and have a good Christmas with my family, and Derek can do the same with his.”
Source: Boxing - thesun.co.uk