Tyson Fury has stated that his team are back in discussions with Anthony Joshua over a potential heavyweight clash.
The WBC champion failed to reach an agreement for an undisputed fight with Oleksandr Usyk, who now looks to be in line to take on Daniel Dubois later this year. Meanwhile, AJ has seemingly set his sights on a showdown with Deontay Wilder after talks between Joshua and Fury’s camps failed to lead to a fight last December.
However, Fury revived the idea that the big-money fight could still take place after admitting that his team had sent an offer to Joshua. This was then confirmed by Matchroom promoter Eddie Hearn, who also shared AJ’s reaction to the proposal. Here are all the latest updates on the potential Fury vs Joshua fight:
READ: Eddie Hearn reveals Anthony Joshua's brutal reaction to latest Tyson Fury fight offer
Tyson Fury sends ‘draft contract’
The WBC champion reignited talk of the long-anticipated fight taking place with a social media post over the weekend. Fury stated he had sent a “draft contract” to AJ’s camp for a bout at Wembley Stadium for September.
It is well-documented that Fury is looking for an opponent ahead of a unification fight with Usyk at the end of the year. With several contenders already out of the running, the likes of Andy Ruiz, Dempsey McKean and Jai Opetaia have all been touted as possible opponents for Fury.
Eddie Hearn responds
Hearn confirmed that he had been contacted by Fury’s promoter George Warren and stated that the terms were identical to the pair’s proposed meeting in December. However Joshua’s promoter insisted that the former world champion was currently targeting a fight in August before facing Deontay Wilder at the end of the year.
Joshua is looking to improve with another training camp under coach Derrick James before taking on the ‘Bronze Bomber’. Hearn revealed that AJ “laughed” when he learned of Fury’s approach and the promoter summed up his feelings towards the potential bout: "Of course we’re interested in that fight. We just don’t know what to think. The confidence we have in basing our plans around Tyson Fury is very thin but it’s my job to go through those motions.”
What has been said
Tyson Fury
“A few days ago I sent a draft contract to Anthony Joshua for a fight in September at Wembley Stadium. It's a fight that everyone wants to see, including myself. Come of AJ, let's give the world what they want to see. This time I'm not gonna make a million vids & keep putting pressure on. The ball is now on your side…”
Tyson Fury’s promoter George Warren
"Spoke with Tyson on Monday, obviously on the back of knowing that Usyk vs Wilder was going to be happening and we were preparing a bid. The question was put to us; what fights are out there, what are the biggest fights we can make?
"AJ's name came up in that conversation, of course it would, it's a huge fight. And the instruction was clear - go and try and make that fight.
"The following morning we put an email over to Eddie (Hearn). Made a formal offer, same terms as for December. So exactly the same terms as far as we're concerned. We're ready to go, Tyson wants it to happen, so do we and I hope they do too."
Anthony Joshua’s promoter Eddie Hearn
“(George Warren) did send an email to say they would like the fight to happen in September on the same terms as we discussed before. I called him 5 minutes later, we had a nice chat, we’ve spoken a couple of times since,” he said, speaking to iFL TV.
"I spoke to AJ (about Fury), AJ laughed and said 'isn’t he fighting Jai Opetaia, or Demsey McKean, or Jon Jones?' I said 'no, they’re telling us they want to fight you, but we’re fighting in August or September,' that’s our plan.
"I’ll go through the process and see how real this is. I believe George Warren, I think they’re in a really difficult spot, Tyson Fury. He wants big money fights and AJ is the money fight for him, but no back and forth, just ‘we’ll talk’.
“Right now our plan remains the same, (a fight in) August and Deontay Wilder in December so we’ll see what happens in Saudi Arabia this week,” Hearn continued. “That’s our plan, that’s what we’re moving forward with, if we can’t make that happen we’ll 100% look at the Tyson Fury fight.”
Hearn added: “Of course we’re interested in that fight. We just don’t know what to think. The confidence we have in basing our plans around Tyson Fury is very thin but it’s my job to go through those motions”
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