BOB ARUM furiously told fans to ‘go f*** yourself’ for moaning about the delay in Tyson Fury’s fight with Anthony Joshua.
Promoters have assured fans the heavyweight title decider is close to completion with an announcement imminent.
Tyson Fury pictured with his US promoter Bob ArumCredit: Getty Images – Getty
Anthony Joshua is still in talks with Tyson FuryCredit: Rex Features
But as the finer details are being put together behind closed doors, fans are growing publicly impatient.
Fury’s US promoter Arum has little sympathy, though, pointing to the coronavirus pandemic as the obvious sticking point in negotiations.
He told BoxingScene: “You know what I say? Go f*** yourself. Find a life. That’s what I would say to them.
“For Christ sake, we’re all dealing with a fraught situation that is none of our fault and we don’t have the expertise if there is any expertise to deal with it.
“(The earliest would be) end of June, beginning of July. But, again, I don’t know. I don’t know. I don’t know what the medical experts are saying.”
Fans are not the only ones growing voicing their concerns, with Fury claiming to have stopped training and instead drinking up to 12 pints a day.
But again Arum made it clear talks with AJ’s backer Eddie Hearn are heading in the right direction, despite Fury’s frustration.
He said: “He’s getting impatient. That’s how he is.
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“I think that everybody is proceeding the way they should be proceeding.
“When the fight will take place, where it will take place — that will work itself out.
“But right now we’ve got a mother f***ing pandemic. You can’t look at this like it’s (2019).
“That’s his nature. He’s impatient. Listen, if I could wave a wand and end the pandemic wouldn’t I do it?
“We’re all on the same page. Eddie’s on the same page, everybody’s on the same page.”
Due to Covid-19 restrictions, the UK is all-but ruled out to host the Battle of Britain, which is now set for an away fixture.
Tyson Fury has grown frustrated with delayed negotiations with Anthony JoshuaCredit: Getty Images – Getty
And Top Rank boss Arum suggested a date and venue is still yet to be finalised, with complications on where fans will be welcomed.
He revealed: “The problem is when can we schedule the fight and where.
“Everybody is in the same boat. Nobody is going to allow a big crowd except the f***ing governor of Texas, who don’t give a s***.
“Everybody else is going to take precautions.”
Saudi Arabia, where Joshua beat Andy Ruiz Jr in their 2019 rematch, is a frontrunner, as it is only three hours ahead of the UK time zone.
They also have the cash to front a huge site fee to bring the unification to the Middle East as well as the prime time TV slot.
Anthony Joshua beat Andy Ruiz Jr in 2019Credit: Getty Images – Getty
But Arum warned no money will be fronted until there is a clear green-light for live crowds, only adding to Fury’s fears.
The promoter said: “There are no substantive issues except for the pandemic.
“Who’s going to put up money for a site unless they can attract people from the outside?
“He’s impatient. He’s a fighter. He’s training. He wants a date. He wants to know how he prepares. We all want that. It is what it is.
“There are no villains here other than the pandemic. Not Eddie. Everybody is behaving appropriately except the pandemic.”
Tyson Fury not holding out on Anthony Joshua fight happening as he will ‘feel like killing’ himself if it falls through
Source: Boxing - thesun.co.uk
