Tyson Fury has cast fresh doubt on his proposed fight with Anthony Joshua, claiming the bout may not happen because of a dispute over money and where it should be staged.
The British heavyweights had been expected to meet in November in one of the biggest fights in British boxing history, but uncertainty over the venue has complicated negotiations.
Joshua and his promoter, Eddie Hearn, have signed a contract for the fight to take place in the United Kingdom, while Saudi organisers are pushing for the bout to be moved to the United States.
In a series of Instagram stories, Fury said: “Doesn’t look like they’re going to sign the fight, and it doesn’t look like it’s going to happen, all because Eddie Hearn and that want more money.”
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Fury and Joshua have separate contracts with Saudi Arabian-owned Sela, which is understood to favour staging the fight at Madison Square Garden in New York.
The bout is expected to be broadcast on Netflix, with a US venue potentially allowing the fight to reach a wider American audience.
Hearn said on Thursday that a list of changes required for the fight to be staged in the United States had been sent to Sela.
He said the main issue was Joshua’s compensation because of differences in taxation between the US and UK.
“In layman’s terms, by staging the fight in America, Anthony Joshua receives less money than he would do if the fight was in the UK, where he was contractually agreed,” Hearn told IFL TV.
Fury responded by accusing Joshua and Hearn of being “disgusting” and “money-thirsty”.
“It is what it is. Same old cliche a decade later. Keep running you little cowards,” he added.
In further posts containing expletives, Fury called Hearn a “bag carrier” and questioned Joshua’s willingness to face him.
“I’ll move on and fight somebody else but just know you never had the guts to fight Tyson Fury, ever, you little coward,” Fury added.
The proposed bout has been widely anticipated after years of failed attempts to bring the two former world heavyweight champions together.
For now, however, the disagreement over the venue and Joshua’s financial terms has left the November fight uncertain.
