Tyson Fury has performed a dramatic U-turn and given Anthony Joshua additional time to accept terms for a potential heavyweight contest between the pair in Cardiff.
Talk of a fight between the two boxing stars has rumbled on for several years but has gained real traction in recent weeks following Joshua's defeat to Ukrainian Oleksandr Usyk.
Fury offered Joshua a 60:40 purse split - in favour of the current reigning champion - to fight at the Principality Stadium on December 3. He set the Londoner a deadline of Monday, September 26 to sign the contract.
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However, after the deal remained unsigned on that date, Fury stated that the fight would no longer take place and that he was set to explore other options.
"Well, guys, it's official. D-Day has come and gone. It's gone past five o'clock on Monday, no contract has been signed," he said on Monday.
"It's officially over for Joshua. He is now out in the cold with the wolf pack, forget about it. Idiot. Coward! I always knew you didn't have the minerals to fight the Gypsy King. Good luck with your career, and your life."
Only 24 hours earlier, Joshua had confirmed his lawyers were poring over the details of the fight contract before putting pen to paper on a bumper deal. "It's not in my hands, it's with the legal team," he said.
"That's why you hire lawyers. You know the history of boxing, make sure you get your legal terms right. Of course, I'm going to sign a contract. It's just with some lawyers at the minute."
But, on Thursday, Fury admitted he was still open to having the fight and issued a fresh message to two-time world champion Joshua on social media.
"Right, Anthony Joshua, where do we start? So the deadline was Monday, Frank Warren asked me and convinced me to let it carry on for another couple of days," said Fury.
"Today is Thursday, even though I knew you wouldn't sign this contract I allowed Frank to continue doing meetings with your team, broadcasters and all that; now we have BT Sport, DAZN and ESPN all on the same page. They are happy with everything. They are all ready to rock and roll.
"You guys asked for a lot of stuff. You wanted to be co-promoters when you're a voluntary challenger, guess what? I said give it to them. Let them be co-promoters. You wanted full transparency even though you're not an equal shareholder in this party. Do you know what I said? Give them full transparency. I have got nothing to hide. I'm not trying to rob anybody.
"Now you have got full transparency everything is clean and fair. Now Joshua, the ball really is in your court son. Everything really is done. If you're a man and have some dignity and pride you'll get this contract signed today. This is it. There are no more days, weeks, months.
"You have had the contract now for over two weeks and you still haven't signed it. Show the public that you are really a big coward, that I know you are and don't sign it. I don't care either way if you sign it or not, it makes no difference to me at all. You're a beaten man and I'm a world champion.
"I'm chucking you a massive bone but I know I can punch your face in so I'm willing to give you an opportunity. There is nothing more to do, everyone is happy. Get your team onto mine, they will be available all day, like they have been for the last two weeks. Get this contract signed today, you big p***y.
"Let the British fans have what they want. There is no more running, you have to fight me. You cannot escape, the Fury is coming, b***h."
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