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Frank Warren, co-promoter for WBC heavyweight champion Tyson Fury, believes Anthony Joshua will be fully on board to face his man.
But, Warren is not convinced that Joshua’s handlers, like promoter Eddie Hearn, are in favor of doing the fight.
He’s also not convinced of DAZN’s willingness to aggressively push for that fight to come around.
Fury will first have to contend with a trilogy fight against Deontay Wilder in a trilogy fight.
And Joshua is contracted to defend his IBF, IBO, WBA, WBO world titles against Kubrat Pulev in the coming months.
Should both champions win, their respective teams will come together to discuss the possibility of a two-fight series in 2021.
Warren says their side is ready to make that fight happen, he doesn’t believe the feeling is mutual on the other end – because a victory by Fury will generate a financial blow to both Hearn and DAZN.
“Tyson Fury is ready and waiting for Anthony Joshua when the clash can happen. And I’m pretty sure Joshua – who is a fighting man – will be up for it too. But I’m not so sure the people around the WBA, IBF and WBO heavyweight champion really fancy the fight against our WBC king. At the moment we cannot talk too much about the bout as we have signed a non-disclosure agreement with a country to host the unification clash,” Warren said to The Daily Star.
“But I have this feeling that Joshua’s side don’t really want it. First we have to take care of a third fight with Deontay Wilder while Joshua is defending his belts against Kubrat Pulev. But do Joshua’s team really want him to go in against Fury? It won’t do much good for Matchroom’s business when he gets beat that’s for sure.
“He is the jewel in their crown and another defeat will take a lot of shine off of him. That’s not good news for DAZN either who, like many companies after this pandemic, will be looking to rebuild when they return. We have often heard others talking about our businesses and saying ‘Look at the accounts’. Well, DAZN has shareholders to answer to even if they do have a very wealthy backer in Len Blavatnik.
“We certainly don’t want to see DAZN disappear from the boxing landscape as they are good for the sport. But they will have to cut back on the huge purses they were offering to tempt fighters with. And Joshua, who is one of their biggest names, getting beat would not be a great for them either. It is just a feeling I’ve got in my bones that they don’t want their man in there with Fury but we will see.”