Tyson Fury and Anthony Joshua still at impasse over mega-fight

Tyson Fury's team says contracts are signed for the long-awaited heavyweight clash with Anthony Joshua, but Joshua's side has not put pen to paper. The standoff continues a decade-long pattern of near-misses between Britain's two biggest heavyweights, with Fury now threatening to walk away from boxing entirely if the fight does not happen next.

Following Fury's one-sided win over Arslanbek Makhmudov at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium last weekend, Fury beckoned Joshua into the ring for a face-off. Joshua stayed ringside. Netflix mistakenly announced the fight for autumn before promoter Frank Warren corrected the record, per the BBC. Backstage, Fury took aim at his rival. "He didn't want the smoke," Fury said, according to the BBC's report. "Ten years in the making and still there's uncertainty if it's going to happen next."

Joshua's personal circumstances complicate timing

Joshua has fought only once in the past 18 months, facing YouTuber Jake Paul, while also dealing with the aftermath of a December car accident that killed two close friends. "I was in a serious incident maybe four months ago," Joshua told viewers as pressure mounted to sign. Some in the sport believe Joshua should take a tune-up fight first, though Fury dismissed that idea. "Taking interim fights, you can get chinned by anyone," he said.

Saudi powerbroker Turki Alalshikh had spoken before and after the Makhmudov bout as if the Joshua announcement was imminent, but no deal materialized. Fury insists Joshua is the only opponent he wants. "If it isn't AJ next, I'm not interested in boxing again. It's either him or I'm gone," Fury reportedly told the BBC.

Both men remain past their peaks, yet the fight would still outdraw almost anything else in the sport. Possible venues include Croke Park in Dublin, which holds over 80,000. Netflix's involvement gives the bout mainstream reach not seen since the terrestrial television era, with Fury's Tottenham card potentially one of the most-watched UK boxing events in years. Viewing figures are expected soon.

Source: bbc.com