EDDIE HEARN has hit back at Bob Arum over his claims that the Matchroom promoter was “stalling” the Tyson Fury versus Anthony Joshua fight.
Hearn officially declared that the proposed Battle of Britain on December 3 with the WBC champ was OFF after a breakdown in negotiations.
Fury initially wanted to unify the belts against Oleksandr Usyk, 35, who twice beat Joshua, but the Ukrainian hero ruled himself out until next year in order to rest and recover having returned home to his loved ones for the first time.
That led to the Gypsy King surprisingly calling out AJ and offering him a 60/40 financial split in his favour.
Contracts were being exchanged by promoters, all while the Fury grew increasingly frustrated.
He originally set a deadline on 5pm on Monday, September 26 but then extended it by a couple of days.
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Hearn claimed he returned a final revised contract last week but had not heard from Frank Warren's son George and has now declared the fight dead but remains open to reviving talks.
Fury’s US promoter is Arum, the boss of Top Rank Inc, then said: “Eddie Hearn is stalling everything, because he doesn’t want the fight to happen.
“And why doesn’t he want the fight to happen? Because Joshua’s lost three out of his last five fights and he figures to lose again if he fights Tyson Fury and so Eddie is in effect being an impediment.”
However, Hearn hit back during an interview with iFL TV, saying: “Bob Arum hasn’t had one phone call about this fight.
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“No one from Matchroom has spoken to Bob Arum … he’s just not involved.
“Frank Warren, who has also had his comments on this situation, has not had one phone call with Team AJ on this fight.
“Everything has been between myself and (Frank Warren’s son) George Warren, and occasionally Frank in calls with the lawyers … so I can only tell you – they’ve been great by the way. Again, no disagreements.”
Hearn added: “When people come out who weren’t even involved in the process with their opinions, like Bob saying, ‘Everything was done.’ No it f***ing wasn’t.
“So what was the US broadcast situation? What was the global TV rights if that was ‘all done’? It wasn’t. But I want to focus on fights that are happening.”
Hearn then went on to confirm, even though he did not name the opponent, that two-time heavyweight champion Joshua is returning to the ring on December 17 at Wembley Arena against a top 20 contender.
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