A resolution in the ongoing contract saga for an all-British heavyweight fight between Anthony Joshua and WBC titlist Tyson Fury appears to be in the near, near offing.
Frank Warren, the head of Queensberry Promotions, which promotes Fury, indicated in a recent interview that a key meeting with “TV broadcasters” will be held Monday and suggested that the outcome of that assembly may make or break a deal to see whether or not two of the biggest heavyweights names today will fight in December.
The question of which network will attain rights to broadcast a Fury-Joshua fight is thought to be the biggest hurdle in the negotiations. Fury has an exclusive deal with BT in the UK and ESPN in the USA, while Joshua has his own exclusive partnership with DAZN.
Is not clear from Warren’s interview if the Monday meeting involves representatives from both platforms or just BT.
“There’s a meeting on Monday and I think that’ll be it, one way or another,” Warren told iFL TV. “Hopefully we get it over the line.
“There’s a meeting with tv broadcasters, so we’ll see what happens then.”
Warren reiterated that Fury would be fighting on Dec. 3rd, even if Joshua fails to materialize as the opponent.
“Whatever happens, he’s fighting [on December 3rd],” Warren said of his charge.”
Warren, however, noted he has a “terrible feeling” that the fight will not happen, a sentiment that Eddie Hearn, Joshua’s promoter, recently related to the press.
“We’re only nine weeks away,” Warren said. “We can’t be dragging this out…it’s not rocket science. It’s not like a 20 or 50 page agreement. It’s a pretty standard agreement.”
“I get a terrible feeling sometimes — I hope I’m wrong that it’s just a game … if he (Joshua) is out then we’ve got to move on quickly,” Warren added.
“There was a load of enthusiasm to start and I feel it waned a little bit. Maybe that’s me being pessimistic.”