Bob Arum has offered his views on why negotiations over a fight between Tyson Fury and Anthony Joshua have failed – and Arum is placing the blame firmly on Eddie Hearn’s door.
When asked by Social boxing Why discussions broke down, Top Rated boss says he believes Joshua really wanted to face Fury, but Hearn deliberately stalled and slowed the negotiation process as a means to get his men out of the fight.
“Two words – Eddie Hearn. I think Joshua wants the fight; Hearn just plays slowly. “
“Once they have agreed on a 60/40 split, how hard is it to put the fight together? But if you keep swapping drafts and playing the game and you don’t aggressively try to make the fight, the fight won’t happen. “
Initial talks between the two factions looked positive, however a few weeks ago clear problems arose and the hopes of British fighting fans were once again dashed.
And Arum, speaking during the press conference for Fury vs Dereck Chisorawent on to say that he felt Hearn was intentionally sabotaging the negotiation because the Matchmaking Room boss didn’t believe Joshua was ready for a showdown with Fury.
“Again, I don’t blame Joshua, I blame Eddie Hearn”
“Why did he do that? Because he doesn’t feel that Joshua – after two losses to Usyk and losing three of his last five fights – is qualified to fight Tyson Fury. “
“He thought he was going to pass and wait to make the fight on the road.”
Whatever the reason and who is to blame, it won’t matter to the general public, who at this stage will start to wonder if they will ever get to see the defining heavyweight fight of the generation. this or not.
