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Top Rank’s CEO Bob Arum, who co-promotes WBC heavyweight champion Tyson Fury, has serious doubts about the desire of Anthony Joshua’s handlers to finalize a year-end showdown.
Earlier this week, Fury pitched a 60-40 monetary split to Joshua to fight in a year-end clash.
Joshua is coming off back to back decision losses to WBO, IBF, IBO, WBA champion Oleksandr Usyk.
Fury had initially tried to secure a fight with Usyk, but the unified champ is healing up from last month’s rematch with Joshua and plans to take off for the rest of the year.
Arum is not convinced that Joshua will put his name on a contract.
“I really don’t think Joshua’s people are anxious to make the fight now,” Arum said to Sky Sports. “Because he’s come through a devastating loss and I think, conventionally, Joshua is going to want a couple of soft touches to get back in the swing of things.
“Our guy, Tyson Fury, wants to fight this year. I tried to see if we could get Usyk this year and apparently they don’t want to do it until February. We’re going to try to get an opponent for Tyson Fury – Joshua or somebody else – and make sure he gets in the ring this year.
“Eddie Hearn is just talking. Eddie Hearn, if he wanted to make the fight, he knows me well enough and knows I’m over here – he knows the Warrens. We haven’t really heard from Eddie Hearn; he’s really good at making statements to the press and television, but he’s not – I don’t think – anxious to make this fight.
“I’ve been in boxing a long time and the fact that Eddie and Joshua would want this fight is, to me, incomprehensible. It makes no sense. If I’m wrong and they decide they want it, they know where to find us and call, and stop talking to the press and talk to us and see if we can put it together.”
Hearn has disputed Arum’s comments, stating that he’s actively speaking with Fury’s other co-promoter, Queensberry Promotions.
“I’m not quite sure what Bob Arum has spoken about, but I’ve had multiple phone calls with George Warren and exchanges of emails. The last being about a couple of minutes ago. AJ has just finished his fight with Usyk. He has a couple of bumps and bruises, nothing major,” Hearn said.
“[Frank Warren’s promotional company] Queensberry have the date held of December 17, and that is our preferred date to make the fight. We’re in continued discussions with Queensberry and I guess you guys will watch it all unfold on social media and on various media outlets around the world.”