“I’ve spoken to Spencer Brown today as well, and he’s saying that even if Anthony Joshua doesn’t fight Tyson Fury, that they’ll go ahead and they’ll have a fight for Tyson Fury in America on that day at Madison Square Garden. They will go ahead, and he will have a fight,” said Gareth to iFL TV.
That changes the position of Joshua and promoter Eddie Hearn. Refusing the New York deal will not necessarily bring the contest back to Britain next year. Fury could face somebody else while Joshua loses a payday that has been discussed for years.
The contract must be completed early next week, in Davies’ view, because the organizers need enough time to promote the event. He identified Monday through Wednesday as the critical period, although he made clear that this was his reading of the situation rather than an official deadline.
Fury sounded increasingly frustrated on Friday, accusing Joshua and Hearn of holding up the agreement because they want more money.
“It doesn’t look like they’re going to sign the fight, all because Eddie Hearn and [Joshua] want more money. They’ve already had that much money off of Turki [Alalshikh] in the last few years, Eddie and AJ. They’ve had boxing deals, they’ve had darts deals, they’ve had snooker deals. They’ve had everything.
“And yet they’ve got the audacity and cheek of flea-bitten rats to ask for more money from Old Turki. That’s hideous. I’ll tell you what, it’s disgusting. Money-thirsty pieces of s***.”
Joshua has already signed for the fight under terms tied to a British venue. Staging it at Madison Square Garden brings different tax and financial considerations, and Hearn wants his fighter to receive the same net purse he would have collected in Britain.
Hearn’s reluctance to accept the relocation may have another explanation. Davies suspects the promoter wants Joshua to take one more fight before risking him against Fury.
The British journalist described Joshua as dangerous during the early rounds but questioned his punch resistance. In his view, a decisive loss to Fury could end Joshua’s career, giving Hearn an incentive to secure another appearance first.
That theory remains speculation. Brown’s statement is the more important development. Fury’s side is prepared to move forward at Madison Square Garden, leaving Joshua with less control over the date than previously thought.
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