ANTHONY JOSHUA and Tyson Fury are ‘very close’ to finalising their undisputed super-fight as Eddie Hearn ruled out a potential delay till December.
The heavyweight champions signed a two-fight deal in March, and promoters gave themselves a 28-day period to have a venue and date set in stone.
Fury himself taunted that the clock was ticking in a recent social media posts, amid concerns a proposed July fight was escaping their grasp.
But AJ’s backer Eddie Hearn assured the deadline – set to expire this weekend – is not a deal-breaker.
And various mega-money site deals are being laid out to both camps in the coming days, which could accelerate talks to the next stage.
Hearn told SunSport: “It’s a self-inflicted deadline from both teams that we agreed that should give us enough time to secure it.
“Both teams will have the options presented to them this weekend, so there will be discussions early next week.
“We’ll say, ‘We like that one’ or ,’We’d like a bit more money’. All these different things are yet to be discussed.
“We’ll work together and say well this is the option, let’s go.
“We’re very close and we’re around the numbers which I think gets this done. I think once it’s presented, I think we’ll be fine.”
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Current coronavirus restrictions have all-but ruled out hopes of a dream Battle of Britain at the Three Lions’ Wembley Stadium.
Instead, the all-English unification is set for an away fixture with the Middle East among the lucrative suitors.
But even then, with current questions marks over live crowds and travel abroad, interested parties have made it clear they will front more money by the end of the year.
That, however, is not an option in Hearn’s eyes, as he warned it is now or never for potential bidders, as the show must go on for July.
He said: “I think everybody is aware, I know you might want to do this fight in November or December, but you can’t.
“All these people that want the fight know this is the only time it will happen.
“You have to do it now. When you make your offer, it’s got to reflect that.”
For the first time in heavyweight history, all four belts – the WBC, WBA, IBF and WBO – are set to be on the line.
Waiting it out for a bigger payday and the end of 2021 could muddy the waters and potentially scupper the historic title decider.
Hearn is confident Joshua, 31, and Fury, 32, understand to finalise the fight as soon as possible, they will have to settle for less than what is being offered for the end of the year.
But still, the current packages being put together will more than guarantee them both career high purses.
“I think they accept the world is different to what it what 18 months ago.
“Is there as much money in the fight now as there was 18 months ago? Maybe not.
“Not from a TV revenue point, just from a site deal point of view, there’s uncertainty over travel, uncertainty over crowds.
“It still comes down to the fact this is the time. If it doesn’t happen now, both fighters will take other fights, who knows a belt will go.
“Whichever offers they take which is presented, every one of them is by far and away the biggest financial opportunity for both fighters.”
