Bob Arum expects to receive a draft contract for the planned Tyson Fury vs Anthony Joshua superfight this week as we inch ever closer to a huge announcement.
Arum says Eddie Hearn will share a draft version of the contract on Tuesday as both sides intensify negotiations for the world heavyweight title unification match in late May or early June.
It is expected that all the world heavyweight titles will be on the line when WBC, Ring magazine and lineal king Fury meets IBF, WBA and WBO ruler Joshua.
They are set to meet outside the UK due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Saudi Arabia, Qatar and Dubai the leading contenders to stage the bout.
It is expected they will earn an eye-popping $100million each for the fight. An immediate rematch then expected to bring another massive payday. It is hoped their second fight may happen in the UK.
Fury vs Joshua contract: It’s close
Talks have been at a delicate stage for weeks, though the important bit was really done last June. Then the two men agreed the structure for a financial pact. They will share revenues 50-50 for the first bout, while the winner will take a 60-40 share for the rematch.
Arum, who promotes Fury in the United States, provided an upbeat update over the weekend. He told talkSPORT: “I talked to Eddie yesterday. Eddie, with the Joshua people, will have the first draft of the contract to us on Tuesday. And then I will circulate it to Frank [Warren], to Tyson and to the various lawyers.
“We’ll then get back to Eddie with our comments and I really believe that this is pretty much a no-brainer because everybody are professionals and want this to happen. So I think shortly we’ll be able to tie this up and then jointly select the site.
“When we get the draft we’ll have our input and send them back a red line copy. They’ll study it and send us back a copy, and within a week or two we’ll have a complete meeting of the minds, I’m very confident. And we’ll get a document that both parties can sign.”
Arum admits that all parties would have loved to stage the fight in the UK, but says the stark situation surrounding the pandemic means it is just not possible. Instead, a site overseas is where the megamatch will land.
“The appropriate place would’ve been the United Kingdom. But with the restrictions and uncertainty, we’re looking for a site someplace else – be it the Mid-East or Asia. And I’m sure that once we get this document signed, we’ll jointly be able to select the site and get it announced.”
The other major remaining details to finalise will surround TV broadcast rights. It is expected Sky Sports Box Office and BT Sport Box Office will do a joint pay-per-view in the UK. Meanwhile ESPN and DAZN are expected to head the queue to show the fight in the United States.
The odds for Fury vs Joshua remain tight, with Fury just the market leader at around the 4/7 mark. AJ is generally an 11/8 or 6/4 chance.
