Frank Warren believes the long-running negotiations over a proposed fight between Anthony Joshua and Tyson Fury are subject to a time limit that will expire by the end of next week. The promoter conceded he is unsure whether the much-delayed bout will happen, saying the decision now rests solely with Joshua, while Fury is already training in the US and ready to face an alternative opponent in November.
Negotiations still open
“Nothing’s been signed off as yet,” Warren said regarding a revised contract for Fury and Joshua to fight in New York. “Everybody’s talking and talking rather than getting on with the business and getting it done. I think it will happen and if it doesn’t, and I think there’s a time limit on it, by the way, it will be one of those fights that slipped by.”
“If it happens, I think it will be in November and, in all probability, in the States. Tyson went over the weekend to Miami, which is where he’s training. So one way or another, he’s going to fight in November. Hopefully, it’s against AJ.”
Time limit and Joshua's decision
Asked about the time limit, with Joshua and his promoter Eddie Hearn seeking more money from US promoters Zuffa Boxing now that the bout is being moved to the US, Warren said: “I should think they won’t let it go past the end of next week.”
Warren was then asked if he believed Joshua actually wanted the fight. “There’re a lot of things I can’t say at the moment. Do I think so? I don’t know. He had a hard fight last time, didn’t he? [Joshua was knocked down twice in the first round against the obscure Albanian Kristian Prenga last month] Came through at the end. But he did have a hard fight. Does he want it? He’s the only one who knows that. He says he does.”
Contract details and next steps
The promoter added: “They’re quite right. They signed for a contract for the fight to take place in the UK. Tyson also didn’t sign up for America, but he’s willing to fight there. In his words: ‘Get the politics and all this crap out of the way. Let’s get the fight on.’ He signed for that fight last January, and unfortunately, AJ’s tragic [car] accident [in Nigeria] put it back. So whether AJ fights Tyson is down to AJ. No one else has any say over that.”
“But I’m confident that Tyson will fight [in November]. He’s in training. Eddie has come out and said what they want. I don’t know what the monetary situation is but, whatever it is, everyone’s got to make their mind up – otherwise move on.”
