Anthony Joshua is reportedly still ready to pull out of his rematch with Alexander Usik – despite Tyson Fury’s claim that he is ready to face Dillon White.
WBC Heavyweight Champion Fury hinted that his long-awaited showdown with White was on the verge of being finalized this morning, just hours after Joshua was accused of snatching a lucrative move-apart deal.
5
5
5
But promoter Eddie Hearn insisted Watford warrior Joshua, unlike the Gypsy King, has yet to decide on his next move.
The Matchroom Boxing chief told The Daily Mail: “It looks like Tyson doesn’t want to fight Usyk anymore.
“You never know what he’ll want from one day to the next, but this time he’s insisting on a heated fight with his inevitable challenger White that will delay everything.
“AJ can’t wait all year while Fury visits Usyk at the end of the summer.
“They will need the contracted cast iron guarantee that they will have a chance to be the undisputed champion by December.”
As it stands, Fury’s Battle of Britain with White is set to go to purse bids at 6pm UK time on Friday.
Latest in Sun Bingo and Vegas
And barring a dramatic turn of events, Joshua’s rematch with the undefeated Usik will spring as planned.
Hearn said: “We have filed our bid fee and notice on behalf of Dillian.
“Frank Warren and Bob Arum may seek another extension in that bid and we will agree if it looks like we can actually reach a deal earlier.”
Hearn has accused former Lineal Heavyweight Champion Fury of shying away from the chance to become the undisputed Heavyweight Champion.
He told IFL TV: “The reality of the situation is that we would be inclined to see a long-term deal with a plan for AJ.
“But we’re not even at that level. Tyson Fury had the opportunity to discuss – Fury doesn’t want to fight Usyk in my opinion.
“Because he had the opportunity to do it through these discussions and really, when it came down to it, he really didn’t want to.
“What Fury wants to do is go a little easier in March, that’s what he really wants to do.
5
“Now, he has to fight Dillian White, and by the way, after all this kerfuffle, he’ll lose to Dillian White, he’ll be out Dillian White.
“But the reality is that when it really came down to it, he never wanted to fight Oleksandr Usyk.
“Because he could go straight into a fight with Oleksandr Usik, but he didn’t want to go straight to a fight with Oleksandr Usik.
“But you’ll never hear it and the public will never hear it. You’ll only hear the fury on Instagram, screaming and screaming with a smoking mirror.”
Although Fury tends to settle the score with White, Hearn refuses to rule out the possibility of a reunification bout with Usyk in the eleventh hour.
He added: “I can’t believe it’s off the table because people are still discussing it. It’s not a deal that I necessarily put together.
“We’ve been approached with a plan and from my point of view, I’m saying I’m open to a long-term agreement to see some sort of plan that will allow AJ to fight the winner among Fury. And Usyk was selected for ‘Best Heavyweight in the World Tag’.
5
“But the reality is Tyson Fury has decided, in fact, he doesn’t want to fight Usyk any further.
“Whether he tells you or not, it’s true. He was unquestionably unprepared to fight Oleksandr Usyk.
“Because he first wanted a fight against someone else in March, now he wants to fight Dillian White. He changes his mind every day.”
Free bets: Receive over £2,000 in new customer deals
