World Championship: The intention of Anthony Joshua’s camp to stage an all-British world title fight has been questioned by Tyson Fury’s US promoter Bob Arum, but Matchroom owner Eddie Hearn has assured that talks are still going on.
Unbeaten WBC heavyweight champion Fury has his sights set on a fight with fellow countryman, Joshua, after a prospective unification bout with Oleksandr Usyk, the current WBO, WBA, and IBF champion, was postponed until next year.
Arum, Fury’s US promoter, has cast doubt on Joshua’s team’s ability to finalise a WBC title match, though.
“I really don’t think Joshua’s people are anxious to make the fight now,” Arum said. “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.”
Arum added: “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.”
Eddie Hearn, Joshua’s promoter, though, told Sky Sports: “I’m not really sure what Bob Arum spoke about, but I’ve had numerous phone discussions with George Warren and emails exchanged, the most recent of which was just a few minutes ago.
“AJ has just finished his fight with Usyk. He has a couple of bumps and bruises, nothing major.
“[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.”
Fury ruled out the fight date of December 17, while issuing a fresh challenge to Joshua on social media.
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