BOB ARUM has claimed Anthony Joshua and Tyson Fury’s site deal to fight in Saudi Arabia is a ‘mirage’ which could lead to talks with Deontay Wilder.
The heavyweight superstars are still in negotiations for an undisputed title decider in the summer, which was first signed in March.
Eddie Hearn revealed both champions had agreed a site deal, believed to be Saudi Arabia, with three weekend spots to choose from.
But Fury’s US promoter Arum has now thrown doubt over Saudi deal and unification super-fight altogether.
He told The Ring: “If I had to bet whether the Tyson Fury versus Anthony Joshua fight would happen or not, I would say no.”
Negotiations between Fury, 32, and Joshua, 31, all came as Wilder, 35, took his right to redemption with the Gypsy King to court.
The American was dethroned of the WBC belt in February 2020 but already had an immediate rematch included in the contract.
But Fury’s side argued that expired in October, allowing him to enter talks with AJ, which Arum appears to claim have stalled.
The legendary promoter travelled with Fury to California to work on mediation with Wilder.
But former lawyer Arum is open to turning the legal case into talks for a trilogy fight, should the Battle of Britain collapse completely.
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He said: “A switch to negotiation is possible.”
Hearn has always maintained they never had a backup for Joshua bar fighting Fury.
And he warned Arum’s comments are all part of a masterplan to accelerate talks between the opposing camps.
Hearn told The Mirror: “Bob is trying to put pressure on, that’s how he works.
“He will think it’s a bit slow now, give an interview thinking it will speed up the Middle East.
“We don’t need to play that game, everybody’s on board, let’s just go through the process correctly.
“Time is of the essence and if we got into a situation where the site agreement wasn’t signed in less than a week, we would have to start looking at things.
“But no-one has a plan B, which is a good sign. Bob may talk about Tyson fighting Wilder, but he ain’t going to fight Wilder, it’s a nothing fight.
“I don’t have other plans, normally I have plan A, B and C, but it’s all about this fight and it will happen.”
Source: Boxing - thesun.co.uk
