The promoter of WBA, WBO and IBF heavyweight champion Anthony Joshua 24-1 (22) remains confident of getting final sign-off on the four-belt unification clash with WBC heavyweight champion Tyson Fury 30-0-1 (21).
Matchroom Boxing boss Eddie Hearn has been working through a number of different offers from various countries who have bid to host the first of the two-fight series in July.
“At the end of this week both fighters and the teams will be presented with all the offers and options on the table, which there will be multiple ones,” Hearn told Sky Sports.
Pressure has been coming from the Fury camp to get the deal over the line. The 32-year-old WBC titleholder has not fought since wresting the belt from Deontay Wilder in Las Vegas in February last year.
Last week John Fury, the father of Tyson, took to social media to blast Hearn for spending so much time talking up the fight rather than finalising the deal.
“This is a video to Eddie Hearn and all these supporters of AJ,” Fury Sr said.
“We’re not bothered about Anthony Joshua one iota and here’s what you can do.
“If he wants a fight in June, get it ready for June, Eddie. We’ll take him as a warm-up fight, him.
“We value Anthony Joshua that much we’ll take him as a warm-up fight in June.
“So get your arse in gear, get everything that needs doing done and we’ll take him in June.
“Because Tyson is fighting twice this year, but we’d like AJ to be the first one on the butcher’s block.
“So get your arse in gear mate, wave your magic wand and let’s get this fight started because nobody’s worried about you or AJ in any way, shape or form.
“And if you can’t put up, shut up – do that.”
Hearn said he was aware of Fury Sr’s video.
“We’re in a good place. I saw John Fury’s comments. It’s almost like they don’t really want the fight. I’d like them to talk it up, rather than talk it down,” Hearn said.
“We’re quite aware that there has been a global pandemic. We’re quite aware that it’s not easy, but we’re out there grafting away every day to get this done. A little bit of support would be nice, John and Tyson, thank you very much.
“Like I said, there will be around three or four offers presented to both camps this weekend and then it’s over to them and the teams to discuss which one we want to take. The dates of those fights.”
Hearn added that the plan hasn’t changed for back-to-back fights between the world’s two leading heavyweights this year.
“Two fights this year,” he said. “It is a summer fight. That’s everything we’re working towards and as confident as ever that this gets done.
“I know that there are some negative people out there and people that believe we can’t pull it off, but we spend a lifetime pulling things off, and I believe we will get this done, and I believe you will see this fight in the summer.
“The next step is to basically get everybody to agree to the venue and the date and they’re going to have multiple options to choose from.
“There’s no other fight for Tyson Fury. There’s no other fight for Anthony Joshua. This is the fight. Everyone accepts that.”
