Frank Warren, promoter for Tyson Fury, has declared that Fury is signed and ready to face Anthony Joshua in an all-British heavyweight showdown, but the clock is ticking on a potential November date.
Speaking to Sky Sports News, Warren said: "It is signed by Tyson. Tyson is signed up for the fight and agreed for the fight. He's signed for it. One hundred per cent. We're just waiting for AJ. I can't speak for him, he's with Matchroom."
Warren's comments came after Fury posted a mocked-up image on Instagram of himself facing Joshua with the words 'New York City', suggesting an announcement was close. The post was seen as a reference to Madison Square Garden as the expected venue.
However, Eddie Hearn, Joshua's promoter at Matchroom, has expressed caution about the timeline. Hearn told ESPN that talks are "dragging" and that "we're running out of time" for a fall date. He admitted he has "no idea" whether the fight will happen in time for a November card.
Venue Dispute and Financial Hurdles
The main sticking point appears to be location. While Joshua's contract calls for a UK fight, with Wembley Stadium preferred by his camp, Sela, the Saudi state-owned promotional company financing the event, is reportedly pushing for New York to capture a larger American audience on Netflix. Warren acknowledged that the location is not Fury's concern, saying: "That's up to the people putting up the money. Tyson just wants to get on... I'll fight him anywhere. He doesn't care."
Hearn has previously stated that an agreement hinges on Joshua's net purse. According to Yardbarker, the sides have not yet finalized purse splits, broadcast deals, or venue logistics. Warren had earlier set a September 4 deadline for Joshua to accept new terms.
Fighters' Recent Activity
Joshua is expected to return after his fifth-round knockout of Jermaine Franklin in April, while Fury has been out of the ring since his decision win over Dillian Whyte last year. A November fight would require both camps to finalize terms and complete promotion in less than three months.
Warren remains confident, however, stating: "Tyson Fury will fight in November, whatever happens." He also insisted that the longer the delay, the harder it becomes to promote the fight: "My gut feeling is the longer it goes on the less chance you've got for it to happen because you're coming towards the date, and they need to sell it."
Warren Defends Itauma After Title Loss
In related comments, Warren defended his fighter Moses Itauma, who lost his IBF world heavyweight title challenge after a ninth-round stoppage by Filip Hrgovic at the O2. Warren said critics were unfair: "They all come with their knives out afterwards. Before the fight there wasn't anyone who tipped Hrgovic to win, other than Hrgovic's team." He added: "There are a lot of things we need to tweak, to put right, and I genuinely believe he will go on to become a world champion and hold the title."