Bob Arum on Tyson Fury-Anthony Joshua Negotiations: “Eddie Hearn is bringing things to a halt”

By: Sean Crose

“Eddie Hearn is stalling everything,” veteran promoter Bob Arum told talkSPORT, “Because he didn’t want the fight to happen.” Tyson Fury co-promoter Arum – along with Britain’s Frank Warren – feel clear that recent negotiations between Team Fury and Team Joshua for a major heavyweight fight are coming because of Joshua promoter, Eddie Hearn wanted nothing to do with the planned December game. “And why doesn’t he want the fight to happen?” Arum asked rhetorically, “because Joshua has lost three of his last five fights and he thinks he’s going to lose again if he goes up against Tyson Fury and so Eddie is really an obstacle.” hesitate.”

While it must be admitted that no one except those involved really knows what’s going on behind closed doors, there’s no denying that Joshua is on the decline in his career. Although still very popular, the towering Londoner recently lost his second straight match to WBO, WBA and IBF heavyweight Oleksandr Usyk. Another loss, for fellow British Fury, will, no less, greatly damage the career of the former multi-title player. “I don’t know what’s the matter,” Arum continued. “He sent a draft and then Frank and George (Warren, Frank’s son) responded and then we didn’t hear from Eddie for days. He is stagnating until it dies of its own actions. “

Regardless of who may or may not be responsible for keeping the fight going, it’s clear at this point that Fury and Joshua’s much-awaited December 3 battle is in jeopardy – if it’s not completed. completely disintegrated. What’s particularly interesting, or grating depending on how one looks at it, is the fact that the fighters seem to really look forward to going head-to-head in the ring. “I don’t think Joshua is part of that,” Arum said talkSPORT. “I think Joshua for whatever reason wants the fight to happen, I know Tyson Fury does too.”

To be sure, the whole thing is always opinionated about it being too good to be true. Fury abruptly offered Joshua a 60/40 split for his late 2022 bout shortly after Joshua’s second loss to Usyk. Hearn acknowledged the offer was legitimate, but said there was still a mountain of usual details that needed to be refined. As the clock ticks, it starts to look like that mountain won’t be scaled in time. And Arum thinks that’s what Hearn wants. “No problem,” Arum said. “If there’s some problem I can see it, but there’s no problem.”