Anthony Joshua-Tyson Fury fight hangs on the next 48 hours, says Eddie Hearn

Matchroom Boxing head Eddie Hearn says discussions held in the next 48 hours will make or break the Anthony Joshua-Tyson Fury heavyweight superfight, stating, “one way or the other, this will be resolved.” 

Hearn admits he’s tempted to stand his ground on the reported original terms of the fight contract already signed by Joshua, stipulating the fight be held in the UK, and walk away from the bargaining table. 

"To be honest, I’d love just to go, ‘fuck you lot,” Hearn told Ariel Helwani. “Do what you promised us. Do what we signed for.’ At the same time, I don’t want to lose the fight because I’m sick and tired of this fight not happening.

“It’s so frustrating because no one’s acknowledging that we [already] signed a contract for the fight… We signed the contract three months ago. So, what are you talking about? You want us to sign the new contract? The new contract that meant that we get less money, and then the fight takes place in a venue that we didn't even agree to? Not just a venue, a country that we didn't agree to?”

Despite the intense back-and-forth over the location, Hearn added that all the controversy will be meaningless should the opening bell ring. 

“I know we’re going to go in there, and I know AJ’s going to knock him out. Where it is, in my opinion, isn’t going to alter the outcome of the fight.

"I do feel very strongly that the contract should stand, and the fight should take place in the UK, [but if the fight ends up in New York, we’re not going to say] 'Oh, I'm very disappointed we're here.' We're gonna go up there and we're gonna have some fun. We will have a great night, and we'll knock him spark out.”