Bob Arum says the potential megafight between Tyson Fury and Anthony Joshua could be made in just one day if all parties are able to sit round a table to discuss it.
The 88-year-old Hall of Fame promoter – whose Top Rank looks after Fury (30-0-1) along with Frank Warren’s Queensberry Promotions – is convinced the fight makes sense and isn’t difficult to make, something Warren himself echoes.
First Fury and Joshua (23-1) have fights to come through before an all-British heavyweight unification showdown can happen. Fury must meet Deontay Wilder in their third fight – with Arum reporting recently that Macau and Australia are both in the mix to host the fight in November or December along with the United States. Joshua meanwhile must overcome mandatory challenger Kubrat Pulev with promoter Eddie Hearn mooting the fight could be held at the Royal Albert Hall in front of a small socially-distancing crowd of high rollers paying big ticket prices for the privilege.
But if Fury and Joshua do win those fights, Arum believes making the big showdown happen should be straightforward.
Arum on Fury vs Joshua deal
He told Sky Sports: “If Fury beats Wilder and if Joshua beats Pulev, which I don’t want because (I promote) Pulev, then we would go ahead and do Fury vs Joshua next year. I don’t think the negotiations would be fraught with difficulty. We could negotiate the deal, if we met in person, over the course of one day.
“We are not known for playing games. We understand Eddie (Hearn, Joshua’s promoter). I worked for many years with his father Barry. My prediction would be: we get a deal done over the course of one day.”
Warren meanwhile also spoke to Sky Sports, re-iterating: “It’s not a difficult fight to make. Whatever is on the table is 50-50. Fury is the No 1 heavyweight but we don’t say 60-40. 50-50 down the middle. Once we get the offer that we’re supposed to be getting, we’ll be in a position to sit around the table and knock it into shape. It’s not about me or Matchroom. It’s about getting this fight made.
“If we can’t make this happen between us, then we’ve got to point the finger at whoever doesn’t make it happen. I’m very excited at the thought of this fight. But both fighters have contracts at the moment – AJ against Pulev and Fury against Wilder.”
There had been speculation in recent weeks that Pulev and Wilder might be persuaded to step aside to allow Fury vs Joshua to happen sooner rather than later – but nothing has materialised so far.
Warren – let’s get it on
Warren added: “If an offer came up, that the Pulev fight had to be avoided, or our contracted Wilder fight had to be avoided, then we need to make that happen. Let’s get it on. We’ve been waiting for various offers. Nothing has arrived yet. There have been ongoing talks.
“Fury? I know I speak on his behalf – he wants the fight. More than anything, he wants the fight. I don’t think Matchroom want the fight. All day long, Tyson Fury beats AJ.
“I had this conversation 18 months ago when Tyson came back. It’s not an issue. This is the fight he wants. It’s the first time ever four belts would be contested in the ring at heavyweight between two Brits. The No 1 heavyweight champion, undefeated, Tyson Fury is the most popular sportsman in the country at the moment.”
