Dubai-based MTK is negotiating for Fury on behalf of his co-promoters, Top Rank and Frank WarrenGETTY IMAGES
Negotiations are "underway for a potential blockbuster heavyweight title unification fight between champions Tyson Fury and Anthony Joshua in Saudi Arabia or elsewhere on the Arabian Peninsula," according to sources cited by Steve Kim of ESPN.com. Sources said that Fury's adviser, Dubai-based MTK, is "negotiating for Fury on behalf of his co-promoters, Top Rank and Frank Warren of Queensberry Promotions," and MTK is "awaiting an offer from promoters in Saudi Arabia." Sources said that MTK is "handling negotiations because of a rift between Warren and Eddie Hearn of Matchroom Boxing," and that the offer to Fury "would have to be large enough to pay Deontay Wilder, who is coming off surgery, to waive his contractual right to an immediate rematch." Sources said that Wilder's team is "aware of negotiations concerning a potential Fury-Joshua fight." But Wilder adviser Shelly Finkel said that "wasn't the case" (ESPN.com, 4/30).
WITHOUT FIGHT FANS? In London, Rick Broadbent notes Joshua's next fight "could take place without spectators" as Hearn starts planning for boxing's return. Hearn said that he "wanted to stage 'two or three' Saturday night fights in July before putting on a bigger show." Joshua was "scheduled to defend his WBA, IBF and WBO heavyweight titles against Kubrat Pulev on July 20 at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, although there has been talk of paying the Bulgarian to step aside" to allow Joshua to face Fury in a unification fight (LONDON TIMES, 5/1).
