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Frank Warren, who co-promotes WBC heavyweight champion Tyson Fury, has raised doubts on Anthony Joshua moving forward with a contracted rematch against Oleksandr Usyk,
Back in September, Usyk outboxed Joshua over twelve rounds to capture the WBO, IBF, WBA, IBO heavyweight titles.
Following the loss, Joshua exercised an immediate rematch clause.
There was a brief moment where a step-aside deal was being discussed – with Joshua stepping away to allow a unification between Fury and Usyk.
According to Warren, the deal fell apart when Joshua demanded more money to make it happen.
However, Joshua’s promoter, Eddie Hearn, claims it was Fury who was being difficult in reaching an agreement to fight Usyk.
“He keeps talking about Tyson not fighting Usyk, I don’t think Joshua will. That’s my opinion. I don’t think he fancies that rematch at the moment,” Warren said to Talk Sport.
“Hearn has his hands full now, he’s got that fight to get on and why does he keep banging on about what we’re doing for?
“Our fight is going to be on BT Box Office, it’s going to be a great fight to watch. Afterwards, they can go and watch all those shows Eddie [Hearn] is putting on his app.”
Hearn stated in a recent interview that he expects the Usyk vs. Joshua rematch to take place in the month of May. At the moment they are trying to work out the location details, with several offers being evaluated.
“It’s clear AJ will be fighting Usyk, which is his preferred choice. May is when you’ll see that fight,” Hearn told the BBC 5 Live Podcast.
“[As far as the location], there’s the UK, America, the Middle East – we’ve had offers all around the world for that fight. I’d like to do it in the UK and we’ll see.”