A British blockbuster bout between the pair has been pencilled in for December, but Fury has questioned his rival’s desire to fight
Tyson Fury has set Anthony Joshua a deadline of Monday to sign a contract for their fight – or forget about facing him for the world heavyweight title.
Fury had offered Joshua a voluntary challenge for his WBC title after Ukraine’s Oleksandr Usyk – the WBO, WBA and IBF champion – ruled himself out of an undisputed title fight this year.
Joshua was installed in the top 10 of the WBC rankings 10 days ago, but Fury says he “will move on” from the £80 million all-British blockbuster fight if a deal is not finalised by his rival’s management team and promoter by close of play on Monday. Any deal also requires the broadcasters BT Sport and DAZN to come to an agreement.
“We’ll know by Monday anyway because if it’s not done by Monday, I’m moving on,” Fury said on Saturday, where he was ringside for Joe Joyce’s WBO interim heavyweight title win over Joseph Parker.
“I’m not waiting around for some guy who’s lost three of his last five fights. He’s lucky I’m giving him a world title shot, but I don’t mind chucking him a bone, you know, but I don’t want them to start dictating s— to me. He is an invited guest at my party, my rules, so if you want to play the game, come to the banquet and take your seat.”
John Fury, Tyson’s father, went further, telling Telegraph Sport: “Joshua has bottled it. Just like [Oleksandr] Usyk. Their guts fell out. Neither of them wants to step in the ring with the greatest heavyweight there has been. They just know they can’t beat him. Gutless.”
However, Eddie Hearn, Joshua’s promoter, insisted that outstanding details in the contract still need to be agreed on both sides, and refused to be pushed into signing a deal. Hearn said on Saturday that the contract he received was “not in the right spirit of the deal” without clarifying further.
Warren responded, saying: “Not a clue what that comment means. We have answered all their requirements. Hand on heart I think both fighters want this, but I’m not sure Joshua’s team do.”
Talks are ongoing between Matchroom and Queensberry Promotions, according to Warren: “We will be around the table in discussion on Monday because our intention is to get this fight over the line.”
Thus far, the two teams have agreed on the date and venue, with a 60/40 purse split in favour of WBC champion Fury.
Where would the fight be held?
The venue is yet to be confirmed, but is highly likely to be Cardiff’s Principality Stadium, which has a roof – a key consideration for a winter event.
When is the fight?
The bout is likely to be on December 3, a Saturday night in the middle of the Football World Cup. However, the Principality Stadium has also been booked for December 17, should the earlier date not work out.
How to watch on TV
TV details will be announced after the fight is officially confirmed, but it is certain to be on pay-per-view TV in the UK. The likely rights holders are Sky Sports or Dazn.
How to get tickets
Capacity for the Principality Stadium on fight night is likely to be about 75,000. Details of how to apply for tickets will be updated on this page before they go on sale.
Which belts would be on the line?
Joshua’s recent defeat to Usyk means that the Ukrainian holds the WBA, IBF and WBO titles. He is also The Ring magazine champion. The only belt Fury still holds is the WBC title, but he regularly boasts that he is also the heavyweight division’s lineal champion, meaning that he is the last man to have beaten the previous champion – something he achieved when he beat Wladimir Klitschko in November 2015.
What are the fighters’ records?
Joshua has 24 wins, 22 of them by knockout, and three defeats. Those defeats were to Andy Ruiz in 2019 and to Oleksandr Usyk in 2021 and then again in 2022.
Fury has 32 wins, 23 by knockout, and one draw – the controversial first fight of a trilogy against Deontay Wilder. Fury has never been beaten.
What are Telegraph writers saying?
Writing after Joshua’s second defeat to Usyk, Gareth A Davies said: “It might look like a chance for Joshua to get into the title picture again, but in reality, the timing is all wrong for a fighter who is licking his wounds.”
Oliver Brown says that, despite Joshua’s tatty recent record, his career can still be redeemed. “A suspect chin aside, he is still in immaculate physical condition. The psychological resolve is still intact, too.
“Boxing proved Joshua’s salvation when he was on remand as a teenager, facing a potential 15-year prison sentence. And it is to this brutal craft that he will continue to cling.”