By Wellington Jopelo
The long-awaited heavyweight clash between Anthony Joshua and Tyson Fury has suffered another setback as both camps remain locked in contract negotiations despite growing excitement around the fight.
Talks over the mega-fight have continued for weeks, with promoters and boxing officials insisting an agreement is close, but contracts are yet to be fully signed.
The rivalry between the two British heavyweight stars has lasted for nearly a decade without a fight finally taking place. Fans have repeatedly watched negotiations collapse over different issues including mandatory fights, financial disagreements and scheduling problems.
Fresh tension resurfaced after Fury defeated Arslanbek Makhmudov earlier this year and publicly called out Joshua inside the ring.
Although Fury claimed his side had already signed the contract, Joshua refused to publicly commit to the bout, saying negotiations were still ongoing behind the scenes.
Joshua later admitted he wanted to carefully review the terms of the agreement before making any final decision.
Reports also revealed that Joshua plans to return to the ring in July for a warm-up fight before facing Fury later in the year.
Promoter Eddie Hearn confirmed discussions are continuing with Saudi boxing officials and organizers working to secure the blockbuster showdown.
Potential venues for the fight have reportedly included Wembley Stadium in London, while earlier suggestions about Dublin’s Croke Park were ruled out.
The proposed fight is expected to become one of the biggest events in British boxing history because of the popularity and long-running rivalry between both fighters.
Fury and Joshua were once close to fighting for the undisputed heavyweight title in 2021 before the agreement collapsed after Deontay Wilder activated a rematch clause against Fury.
Since then, both fighters have experienced major career changes. Fury lost his WBC heavyweight title to Oleksandr Usyk, while Joshua also suffered setbacks before rebuilding his career.
Joshua’s recent recovery from a car accident in Nigeria also reportedly affected discussions around his immediate return to the ring.
Despite the delays, boxing insiders still believe the fight will eventually happen because of the huge financial interest and global attention surrounding the matchup.
Fans around the world now wait to see whether the latest negotiations will finally deliver the heavyweight showdown many consider the biggest missing fight of this boxing era.