Tyson Fury and Anthony Joshua are still in negotiations over their potential boutThe British heavyweight boxers could go head-to-head in December this yearThe contract for the fight has not yet been signed and Fury is getting frustratedAs a result, the Gypsy King has called off the fight twice in the last four daysHowever, Joshua and Eddie Hearn have both said they are planning on signingSportsmail have rounded up exactly what’s been said and where things stand
The proposed Battle of Britain bout between Tyson Fury and Anthony Joshua has taken more twist and turns than a snake with an itch.
The Gypsy King has twice called the fight off in the last four days, Eddie Hearn has accused Fury of spreading false information and Frank Warren has called AJ’s demands ‘nonsensical’.
Much like the rest of us, Tony Bellew has said the Fury vs AJ situation has turned into a farce, while the likes of Dillian Whyte has said it’s all getting a bit ‘silly’ after months of negotiations.
So, due to the never-ending amount of chaos surrounding the proposed fight, Sportsmail have decided to break down exactly what’s been said by both parties and outline where the negotiations stand at the moment.
Fury told Joshua he has until 5pm on Monday to sign the contract for their proposed fight
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September 24 – Fury set AJ a deadline of 5pm Monday and said Matchroom had been in possession of the contract for over a week
Fury told Joshua he had just 48 hours to return the contract for their Battle of Britain clash and said the fight would be called off if he did not sign on the dotted line by Monday (September 26).
Fury claimed Hearn and Matchroom had been in possession of the ‘for over a week’ and that he was frustrated with the lack of movement from their end.
The Gypsy King said: ‘They’ve had the opportunity to agree to this fight for about a month I’d say. They’ve had the contract for over a week, still not signed, still a few more excuses they’re gonna come back with. We’ll know more on Monday I think, the two broadcasters are gonna meet on Monday and then we’ll know from there. If it’s not done by Monday then I’m moving on.
‘I’m not waiting around for some guy who’s lost three of his last five fights, he’s lucky that I’m giving him a world title shot. I’m sick of setting deadlines. They either want this poxy fight or they don’t. They either wanna do it or they don’t. And if they wanna do it: sign the contract and if they don’t: do one.’
Warren said he was ‘optimistic’ that the fight would be confirmed on Monday but he did share his concerns over the broadcaster rights and hinted that could the only stumbling block.
Warren told BBC Sport: ‘We are meeting on Monday and I am hoping on Monday we will get it over the line. I don’t think there are a lot of issues. The only thing I think I can hold it up at the moment is the broadcasters. BT are on board to do it so I am sure we can get it over the line.
‘I am an optimist. AJ said he wants to fight and if he tell his team I want the fight it will happen. We’ve agreed the financial terms, we’ve said they can be involved in all the contracts, we’ve said they can be involved in setting the budget for the undercard.
‘We’ve let them into everything. So, there shouldn’t be a reason why it shouldn’t go ahead. This week we’ve got to be announcing something. Definitely this week. I’m hoping by Monday we get it sorted.’
September 26 – Warren said that they had given Joshua and his team ‘nearly everything they wanted’
Fury’s deadline was fast approaching but Warren remained confident the contract would be signed as they had given AJ and his team ‘nearly everything they wanted’.
Warren went on to say their offer was ‘over and above for a guy who is coming off of two losses’. He told TalkSPORT: ‘The only person who can stop this fight from happening, to be quite honest, is Anthony Joshua.
‘We’ve given them nearly everything they wanted, over and above for a guy who is coming off of two losses. So, let’s just get it on. Or if you don’t want the fight, just say so and we can move on. We want it.
‘On Monday, I think we’re going to have a meeting and see where it goes from there. We want the fight. I want the fight. I desperately want to get that fight on. Tyson wants it, that’s why such a generous offer was made.’
September 26 – Fury called off the fight after learning Joshua had not signed the contract by his 5pm deadline
Joshua and his team failed to return the contract before Fury’s 5pm deadline. As a result, the Gypsy King took to social media to claim the fight was off and reveal he would be moving on to fight somebody else.
Fury said: ‘Well guys, it’s official: D-Day has come and gone. It’s gone past 5 o’clock [on] Monday, no contract has been signed. It’s officially over for Joshua. He is now out in the cold with the wolfpack. Forget about it.
‘Idiot, coward, s*** house bodybuilder. Always knew it, always knew you didn’t have the minerals to fight the Gypsy King. Regardless of what the f*** you say now, I don’t really care. Good luck with your career and your life. End of.’
September 29 – Fury revealed the fight was back on after Warren convinced him to extend the deadline. However, he set AJ a new cut-off point of Thursday afternoon
Fury took to social media to say Warren had successfully convinced him to extend the deadline for the Battle of Britain clash. However, he set Joshua a new deadline of Thursday afternoon to sign the contract.
He said: ‘Anthony Joshua, where do we start. The deadline was Monday. Frank Warren asked me and convinced me to let it carry on for a few more days.
‘Today is Thursday. And even though I knew you wouldn’t sign this contract, I allowed Frank to continue doing meetings with your team and your broadcasters and all that, and now we have BT, DAZN and ESPN all on the same page. They are happy with everything. they’re all happy, ready to rock ‘n roll.’
He continued: ‘This is it. There are no more days, weeks and months. You’ve had the contract for over two weeks and you still haven’t signed it.’
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