One of the biggest fights in British boxing history is suddenly hanging in the balance as Tyson Fury and Eddie Hearn trade extraordinary public blows over the proposed Anthony Joshua blockbuster.
Fury insists “there is no getting out of this one” and has declared he will fight Joshua anywhere in the world, but Hearn has sensationally warned Joshua’s camp could still walk away from the long-awaited showdown.
IBC 05: Hardman v Camilleri | Wednesday September 23 from 7pm AEST | The World’s fastest growing combat sport returns with a showdown for the ages, as Isaac Hardman takes on veteran boxer Joel Camilleri in the Gold Coast. | Order Now with Main Event on Kayo Sports.
“We may still say no because we haven’t made a decision yet,” Hearn said.
It comes amid an increasingly bitter dispute over the location and terms of the fight, with Hearn accusing Fury’s camp of “moving the goalposts” and describing negotiations with the former heavyweight champion as a “total f***ing nightmare”.
Fury, meanwhile, has launched a blistering attack on both Joshua and Hearn, rejecting suggestions he doesn’t want to fight in England and declaring he will “batter” his British rival when they finally meet.
“Why the f*** wouldn’t I want to fight in England, you sausage?” Fury said.
“Tyson is not in charge of this fight. Tyson didn’t put the money up for this fight. Tyson is not the paymaster.
“Lovely, it’s in England, even better. I’m knocking him out even quicker.
“Primetime England, 10 o’clock, Wembley Stadium, 100,000 people. Why the f*** wouldn’t I want it in England?”
Fury and Joshua have repeatedly been linked with fighting throughout their careers without ever sharing the ring, and despite the latest negotiations appearing to finally bring the heavyweight giants together, fresh uncertainty has emerged.
Fury insists the location won’t stop him.
“This fight’s been moved up about four or five times to a very different location, Ireland, England, Las Vegas, New York. I’ve said yes to all of them,” Fury said.
“Yeah, I’ll fight, no problem. Let’s get it on. Let’s get it on like Donkey Kong.
“I’ll fight in Brazil. I’ll fight in Morecambe. I’ll fight in Derby. I’ll fight in f***ing Costa Del Sol. I’ll fight on Mars.”
But Hearn has painted a very different picture of the negotiations, claiming an agreement has already been signed and suggesting Joshua’s camp is growing increasingly
frustrated by attempts to alter it.
“We’ve been unbelievably fair because really we should just be saying no and we may still say no because we haven’t made a decision yet,” Hearn said.
Asked whether they would really walk away, Hearn replied: “Yes.”
And when it was put to him that Joshua’s camp would be blamed if the blockbuster collapsed, Hearn remained defiant.
“I don’t care. Listen, you can’t win every way.”
Hearn then revealed how strongly his father, Matchroom founder Barry Hearn, feels about honouring signed agreements.
“My dad lives and breathes and dies on contracts. My dad lives and dies on his word.”
“He would never ever look to change a contract. Once you sign a contract, that is done and there are no changes.
“My dad will be saying, tell Tyson Fury to go f*** himself.”
Hearn accused Fury of constantly searching for an advantage and suggested Joshua’s team had grown tired of the games surrounding negotiations.
READ MORE:
‘LET’S F***ING FIGHT’: Fury explodes at ‘coward’ AJ as 48-hr deadline emerges for blockbuster
‘WRITING ME OFF’: The Aussie boxing greats fuelling massibe underdog’s shock Vegas upset bid
“Fury don’t care,” Hearn said.
“He’s looking for an edge all the time. He’s looking for a nick.
“We don’t need a nick. We don’t need any favours. We just do as we say. Not do as we say on Instagram but do as we say in contracts.”
And Hearn saved one of his strongest assessments for the difficulty of dealing with Fury.
“This is the second time we’ve signed to fight Tyson Fury and once again, it’s a total f***ing nightmare,” Hearn said.
“Moving the goalposts, lies, hyperbole on Instagram, all of this stuff and we can’t, we see right through it now.”
While Hearn was questioning whether the fight would proceed, Fury was delivering almost the complete opposite message.
“If I agree to tie both hands behind me back and wear solid cement boots, Anthony Joshua would never get in the ring with me because I’ll annihilate him,” Fury said.
“There is no getting out of this one. Get ready for this fight. I’ve had enough of you, son, to last me 11 years.
“I’m battering the f*** out of you, you useless dosser piece of s***.
“Your new name is White Feather, yellow belly.”
Fury also took aim at Hearn before promising to knock out Joshua and ridiculing his rival’s famous physique.
“You and your little pathetic puppet, Eddie Hearn, trying to save you. There’s no escaping you.”
“The cash cow is getting knocked out because after this he won’t be able to show his face in public ever again,” Fury said.
“You’re a useless dosser, a big bodybuilding piece of s***. Too many weights, not enough speed.
“And you can’t put muscles on the tash.”
The extraordinary exchanges have turned what appeared to be the final stages of negotiations into another tense chapter in the seemingly never-ending pursuit of Fury-Joshua.
Fury says there is “no getting out of this one”.
Hearn says they “may still say no”.