TYSON FURY must fight soon with or WITHOUT Anthony Joshua as talks reach crunch time, his dad John revealed.
Fury, 32, and Joshua, 31, signed a two-fight deal in March, and promoters gave themselves a 28-day period to have a venue and date set in stone.
That deadline expired last weekend, but various site offers have been presented to both camps.
But if a deal cannot be agreed to fight at least by August, Fury’s dad warned his son will be forced to move on to a new opponent.
John, 56, told Sky Sports: “If this goes on any longer, he will need tune-up fights.
“Inactivity plays a big part in boxing. You’ve got to have activity under those lights.
“As a father, I wouldn’t be doing my job right. I won’t let it happen if my son isn’t on it. And if I say something to Tyson, he will take it on board.
“If the fight happens in June, July or even August we will take it. But if it runs into next year then we need to fight.”
Promoter Eddie Hearn has travelled the world speaking to various suitors looking to host the historic undisputed title decider.
But with current questions marks over live crowds and travel abroad, interested parties have made it clear they will front more money by the end of the year.
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John said: “As of 9pm [on Tuesday], nothing has changed. I know they are working their backsides off to get this over the line.
“But it’s proving to be a difficult one for Eddie Hearn. He’s gone to all four corners of the world trying to sell this fight.
“Nobody wants to invest because it’s the wrong timing for their business.
“They want to make money out of it, but the timing won’t allow them to make money out of it.
“But the world wants it. They have been in a rush with it. When you rush a cake, it doesn’t taste right.
“This fight could be made a lot easier, a lot simpler, in the coming months when people get back to easier ways, to normality.
“At this moment in time, nothing has changed. There are rumours, lots of rumours, but nothing set in stone as of 9pm [Tuesday night].
“I told him ‘sit tight’. If they make it, good. If they don’t… the clock ran out last Saturday.
“If we didn’t want this fight we wouldn’t still be negotiating. We want this fight. We will give it every opportunity to put this fight on in June or July.
“We are sitting tight, awaiting a contract, venue, date. We will sign. We are ready to go. We don’t need a long training camp, we can go in the next five weeks.”
Current coronavirus restrictions have all-but ruled out hopes of a dream Battle of Britain at the Three Lions’ Wembley Stadium.
Instead, the all-English unification is set for an away fixture with the Middle East among the lucrative suitors.
But Gypsy traveller Fury has no preference where the fight is staged, as long as there is a referee and Joshua stood inside the ring.
John said: “Tyson will fight anywhere, with AJ or anyone.
“Wherever they make this fight happen, Tyson will be happy to oblige them. It’s not a problem.
“Ideally I’d like it [in the UK] but I don’t think that will happen.”
Source: Boxing - thesun.co.uk
