IT’S NOW OR NEVER
AJ accepts Fury fight as he knows it’s his last shot
ANTHONY JOSHUA has accepted Tyson Fury’s offer to fight on December 3 because he fears he may not get another chance.
Promoter Eddie Hearn was unhappy with the terms tabled by the WBC heavyweight king but claims Joshua agreed because he felt this could be his last chance of facing him.
The pair will clash in British boxing’s biggest fight, probably at Cardiff ’s Principality Stadium, with a 60-40 purse split in Fury’s favour and Hearn revealed Joshua is putting up with being treated as “the B-side”.
“I didn’t expect the next fight to be Tyson Fury but AJ is the boss,” said the Matchroom chief.
“He’s the guy who makes the decisions and he said ‘I may never get the chance again because he fights Usyk, he retires, etc. If it’s here, I accept.’
“This is the fight AJ’s wanted for so long and he wasn’t prepared to wait any longer.
“He felt this could be his only opportunity to get the fight with Tyson Fury.
“Everybody asks me about this fight and he has continuously fought all challengers.
“He has continuously fought everybody people have wanted him to fight and this is another example of that.
“Mr Fury has a great deal but this one wasn’t about the money for AJ.
“This was about the challenge and we accept the challenge.
“We weren’t allowed to negotiate. In all deals you negotiate but we were told unequivocally, no movement, take it or leave it.
“We were treated like the B-side going into the fight.
“Whether that was right or wrong, it doesn’t really matter because it came down to AJ wanting the fight.”
Hearn still harbours some doubts because Joshua signed to fight in Saudi Arabia last summer for the undisputed title, only for Fury to pull out when he was told to fight Deontay Wilder a third time.
Team Joshua are waiting to receive the fight contract from Fury’s co-promoters Frank and George Warren and Hearn insists it will be the Gypsy King’s fault if it falls through now.
“We signed the contract for the Fury fight to take place in Saudi Arabia,” he said. “That fight was agreed, signed and unfortunately the arbitration ruling meant that fight could not take place.
“We have to receive a contract now but if they really want the fight, it will get made. AJ’s all in for the fight.
“I always have my doubts when it comes to Tyson Fury but everything I hear from George Warren, I believe.”
Hearn also plans to rearrange Leigh Wood’s WBA featherweight title defence against Mauricio Lara after the Nottingham fighter was forced to pull out of their September 24 fight with a torn bicep.
“I do want to reschedule the fight because it’s a great one and I know Leigh Wood will want to as well,” said Hearn.
“He’s got six weeks out to recover from his injury. He doesn’t need an operation, which is good news.”
This was all about the challenge and we accept the challenge
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