Bob Arum says a Tyson Fury vs Anthony Joshua superfight is close to becoming reality and believes the deal could be sealed within the next two weeks.
Top Rank supremo Arum promotes Fury in the United States, and has been working feverishly behind the scenes with Joshua’s promoter Eddie Hearn to close negotiations.
Fury (30-0-1) and Joshua (24-1) last summer agreed in principle the financial structure for a two-fight deal. The first fight would see a 50-50 revenue split with the winner taking a 60-40 upside for the rematch.
Arum: Fury vs Joshua talks going splendidly
Arum told Sky Sports News: “I don’t want to make a deadline, but I just can report that everything so far has been going splendidly, and we hope to have a signed document within the next couple of weeks.
“That might not provide for a site, because again, we can have a document that the fighters would have signed, and everything, and then have a mutual agreement clause of the site. We’re all on the same page, as far as I can see.
“I’m 95 per cent confident the fight happens, and I’m 100 per cent confident that my guy wins, and wins by knockout.”
The venue for the bout remains the biggest detail to be ironed out. It appears unlikely now that the UK could hold such a huge bout in May or June with a big crowd in attendance. COVID-19 regulations mean it will be some time before arenas here are full again.
Fury vs Joshua overseas a virtual certainty
With that in mind the financial hole left by the lack of a live gate means the fight taking place overseas appears to be an odds-on certainty.
Saudi Arabia staged Joshua vs Andy Ruiz Jr 2 in December 2019 and is expected to make a huge offer for this fight. The likes of China, Dubai and Singapore have also been mentioned as possibles.
There is a much bigger chance that a rematch would be held in the UK, given the extra time for the pandemic to hopefully subside in terms of negative impact.
