Tyson Fury wants to fight Joshua by all means possible

Loquacious British heavyweight champion Tyson Fury has given promoter Frank Warren leave to continue pressing Nigerian-born Anthony Joshua to confirm their blockbuster world heavyweight title fight.

The Gypsy King has set Joshua a number of deadlines for signing on the dotted line to meet him under the roof of Cardiff’s Principality Stadium on December 3 - and on Thursday called off the fight for a second time in a week.

‘Tyson has become very frustrated by Joshua’s delays,’ says Warren. ‘But he’s authorised us to keep talking because he knows that unless this huge domestic fight isn’t made now it may never happen.

‘It took Joshua and his team including his promoter Eddie Hearn almost two weeks to respond to our contract which guarantees him 40 per cent of the take, which is more generous than Tyson is obliged to offer as the WBC champion.

‘They finally came back with alterations which were mostly nonsensical. But we immediately made adjustments and again we are waiting on a reply.

‘We hope we are wrong in suspecting that someone on their side wants to block this fight and does not want Joshua to risk a fourth defeat in five fights, which could be damaging at this stage of his career.'

Hearn has complained about Fury putting alternative opponents on stand by, notably Mahmoud Charr the German-Lebanese former WBA champion, but Warren says: ‘We have to have a fall back position in case Joshua pulls out. Tyson will fill Cardiff whoever he fights. And December 3 gives him time to prepare to fight Olexsandr Usyk for the undisputed world title early next year. 

'For clarity, we are well into negotiations for that massive fight and there is no doubt it will happen.’

Joshua may find himself with no alternate avenue to go down if his Fury fight collapses 

Hearn tells Fury to stop interfering in Joshua's negotiations

‘There is no reason why Joshua should not come to terms. TV rights were said to be the obstacle but the fact is that BT Sports, DAZN and ESPN in America are all on board with shared pay-per-view broadcasting.’

Fury says: ‘They keep complaining about lack of transparency but we have offered them co-promotion and participation in every bit of the deal. What could be more transparent than that?’

Warren insists: ‘We want the fight. They say they want the fight but it is time for them to prove it.’ He adds: ‘I’m still confident we can get Joshua over the line but this is a big event which will need time to promote.’

The dilemma for Joshua is that if he baulks at Fury there is no other fight of comparable magnitude or money to which he can turn. Usyk, for one, has played down speculation of a third fight with AJ, who he has defeated twice in succession in claiming and then defending the WBA, IBF, WBO and Ring magazine belts.