ANTHONY JOSHUA and Tyson Fury are ‘close’ to an official announcement after contracts were exchanged, revealed Eddie Hearn.
The two British superstars are on course to agreeing a historic undisputed title decider.
Anthony Joshua pictured with his promoter Eddie HearnCredit: Mark Robinson Ltd
Bob Arum pictured with heavyweight Tyson FuryCredit: Getty Images – Getty
AJ’s promoter Hearn has already drafted paperwork over to Bob Arum, Fury’s backer in America.
And with ‘minor requests’ being returned back, the super-fight has moved another step in the right direction.
But Hearn warned as they close in on a deal, he will remain tight-lipped, but things are moving in the right direction.
He told iFL TV: “To be honest with you I don’t really wanna talk about the fight because I keep saying the same thing, don’t I? ‘Two weeks, hopefully it’ll be done’.
“I don’t wanna bore people, but I said to Bob, ‘I’m getting asked about it 20 times a day in interviews, what do you want me to say?’
“So what I’ll tell you – and I don’t think we should go too deep into it – is we’ve sent the contract, we’ve had minor requests for changes which all seem a reasonable discussion.
“And hopefully it shouldn’t be too long to go before an official announcement. Still some work to go, but we’re close.”
The fight is set to promise, for the first time in heavyweight history, that all four WBA, WBC, IBF and WBO titles will be at stake.
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Hearn added that June is now the targeted date but a venue is yet to be agreed.
Amid coronavirus restrictions in the UK, the Battle of Britain looks destined for an away fixture, with the Middle East and Asia both mooted options.
Hearn revealed he received a request from Arum to withhold information until they, alongside Fury’s UK promoter Frank Warren, can officially announce the fight as a done deal.
He said: “Bob phoned me two nights ago, ‘Eddie, I think you should stop talking about Fury vs Joshua.
“I said, ‘What do you mean?’
“And he went, ‘Well, because you’re talking and then Frank’s gonna wanna talk and I’m gonna wanna say something. Let’s just go quiet until we sign the deal and all announce it together.’
“I said, ‘Alright Bob.’ Bob phones me up and tells me what to do! I respect Bob, I don’t have to listen to Bob, but I respect Bob.
“I listen, I digest the information – or the instruction sometimes – and decide what I’m gonna do.
“And I agree.”
Source: Boxing - thesun.co.uk