Hearn: AJ v Fury deal in four weeks

The £200million mega-fight between Anthony Joshua and Tyson Fury should be signed in the next four weeks, Joshua’s promoter eddie hearn said yesterday. Though hearn dismissed the claim made by Bob Arum — Fury’s co-promoter — that a venue had been agreed, the Matchroom chief insists only contractual quibbles stand in the way of the heavyweight showdown. The first bout of their two-fight deal is slated for late May or early June and, once that has been confirmed, both teams will explore up to 10 interested overseas venues — from Australia to eastern europe — in the hope that the coronavirus landscape will soon clear up. ‘We will say, hopefully in the next three or four weeks, deal done — everybody’s on board and signed,’ hearn said. ‘We’re in a position now where everything is being finalised in the contractual sense, then we will go to the venues where we’ve had offers and say, “OK, now we’re looking to negotiate and finalise that”.’

The fight is likely to end up in the Middle east but hearn (left) said they have held talks in locations including Australia, Saudi Arabia and eastern europe. The promoter also insists neither broadcasting battles nor Deontay Wilder will prevent the fight from going ahead. Wilder is in mediation with Team Fury over his right to a third fight. Meanwhile, Dillian Whyte’s heavyweight rematch against Alexander Povetkin has been confirmed for March 6. Gibraltar is in the running to host the bout.