Rival promoters Eddie Hearn and Frank Warren have traded verbal jabs in the wake of Anthony Joshua rejecting an offer to face WBC heavyweight champion Tyson Fury on a September date at Wembley Stadium in London.
Warren, who co-promotes Fury, sent a formal offer to Hearn, who guides the career of Joshua.
Joshua refused to put off his two-fight plan to close out 2023.
He plans to make a return on August 12, potentially in a rematch with Dillian Whyte. And the second fight would land in December, possibly with former WBC champion Deontay Wilder in Saudi Arabia.
During a recent interview, Warren lashed out in the direction of Hearn for the unexpected turn of events.
“Eddie Hearn is talking a complete pile of b-llocks,” Warren told iFL TV.
“The fact of the matter is, the offer was made. It was a genuine offer. Tyson was very much aware of it. Tyson to his credit said to me yet again, ‘he won’t take it because he’s terrified of fighting me’. Irrespective of that, they didn’t take the fight. Because they want to fight in Saudi and get this payday.
“Who’s he going to fight in August? They’re going to go and find somebody, they’re probably scouring the old cemeteries at the moment looking for someone for him to fight.”
Hearn, never one to remain quiet for too long, fired right back at Warren and took a swipe at Fury's co-promoter, Top Rank CEO Bob Arum.
“What Frank Warren does is just completely ruin any chance of the fight getting made,” Hearn said.
“Bob Arum, Warren and even my old man [Barry Hearn]. Ban them from interviews. They’ve just lost the plot and say crazy things. Just go. Go on holiday. It’s not worth the stress for you, it looked so desperate. They are desperate. They have no offer from Saudi Arabia and they have no fight.”
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