Anthony Joshua and Tyson Fury are “on the verge” of finalising their highly-anticipated heavyweight showdown, says the former’s promoter Eddie Hearn.
Hearn has been negotiating with Fury’s promoters Bob Arum and Frank Warren ever since Joshua cleared the last remaining obstacle blocking his path to a lucrative mega-fight with the Gypsy King back in December.
AJ knocked out IBF mandatory challenger Kubrat Pulev inside nine rounds at Wembley Arena and can now turn his attention to an eagerly-awaited clash with his British nemesis in 2021.
Contracts between the two teams have been back and forth, but Hearn insists they are now closer than ever to confirming the fight.
“Contracts have been backwards and forwards. Only minor details to be resolved on both ends. We’re in a good place,” the Matchroom chief told Sky Sports.
“AJ was in the office yesterday with us. We had a good meeting to finalise our side of stuff.
“We want to make sure the ink is dry, and then we’ll go out and finalise the site details.
“I’m going to keep quiet for now, which probably won’t last for too long, but in the meantime working hard to finalise what is the absolute biggest fight in boxing.”
Arum, who is Fury’s promoter out in the States, has been left frustrated by Hearn’s public comments about the fight negotiations.
Despite this, however, the Top Rank boss has also offered a positive update of his own.
“It’s very, very hard for Eddie to shut up,” he said on talkSPORT.
“I told him, let’s get this over the line, let’s get this done, and then we’ll make a joint announcement.
“To stop Eddie is like stopping a raging river, he can’t keep his mouth shut.
“All I’ll say about what’s happening is that both Matchroom’s side and our side, which includes Queensberry and Robert Davis (the attorney for Tyson).
“The negotiations have been pleasant, it’s proceeding like every big fight does.
“We made changes, they accept some, they send it back, back and forth. And all I can say is that the issues are gradually dwindling.
