Anthony Joshua vs Tyson Fury: Fight talks to reach crunch point early next week with August 14 date in doubt

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Talks between Anthony Joshua and Tyson Fury over their heavyweight unification fight will reach crunch point early next week.

On Thursday night, Eddie Hearn claimed both sides had agreed to the fight taking place on August 14 in Saudi Arabia, with only administrative tasks left to iron out before contracts are signed.

But the finances still remain the major sticking point yet to be agreed, with Fury frustrated by the lack of money guarantees from the potential Saudi hosts over the big-money fight.

There are those close to the talks that insist the August date remains an impossibility and that the much-anticipated fight could yet be delayed until as late as December.

Speaking on Thursday, Hearn said: “Team Fury need to be comfortable. The word and feeling out of both camps should give you the security that this fight is happening and August 14 is the date.”

A number of dates have already been put forward for the all-British encounter in June, July and most recently August 7, which was scrapped because of a clash with the final days of the Tokyo Olympics.

Despite Hearn’s confidence over the latest date, the heat even at night in Saudi in mid-August as well as the finances are two key issues in what have been tense negotiations between the two camps.

Fury has made it clear that he has no intention of signing any contract until the money guarantees are in place for potentially the richest fight in boxing history.

And should the date be shifted months later into 2021, the 32-year-old, who has not fought since beating Deontay Wilder in February 2020, would line up another opponent.

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