ANTHONY JOSHUA won’t sign up for a short-notice domestic dust-up with Tyson Fury as he doesn’t want to commit “financial suicide.”
WBC heavyweight king Fury threw AJ a shock championship lifeline earlier this month after his Brit rival’s second consecutive defeat to Oleksandr Usyk.
Despite Fury publicly claiming the deadline for their December domestic dust-up has passed, negotiations for the biggest fight in British boxing history are still ongoing.
But Fury’s old man, John, doesn’t believe Joshua’s team will allow him to take the fight.
The 58-year-old told The Daily Mail: “I can understand why [they are stalling on the contracts]. He is their Golden Boy.
“A defeat to Tyson Fury, financially… it would financial suicide for them wouldn’t it. That’s why they don’t want it.”
READ MORE IN SPORT
John insists Team Fury would understand if Joshua declined the fight in order to spend time with his family following his long and gruelling training camp for his August rematch with Usyk.
He said: “You know what. If he came up with a viable explanation saying that, ‘You know what I’m not ready for it.
“‘I just come off a defeat and want some time out to spend some time out with the family.’
“We’d understand that if he just says the truth – which is the truth. He said somewhere else he’s just come off a bad defeat.
JOIN SUN VEGAS: GET A FREE £10 BONUS WITH 100s OF GAMES TO PLAY AND NO DEPOSIT REQUIRED (Ts&Cs apply)
“He’ll be a bit depressed over that, you know, and we can understand that. Why, don’t he just say that.”
Fury and Joshua were set to do battle last year after agreeing a blockbuster two-fight deal in March 2020.
But former WBC heavyweight champ Deontay Wilder scuppered the undisputed bout when he won his arbitration for a trilogy fight with Fury.
Joshua is seemingly champing at the bit to get his hands on Fury, although John believes the fallen champion is having serious “doubts” about the fight.
When will Tyson Fury vs Anthony Joshua take place? All you need to know on blockbuster bout
He said: “I think Joshua’s sort of like getting doubts about fighting the Gypsy King.
“You know they’ve had that contract now, for well over a month. Nothing’s happened.
“But what they want, you see, is a to and fro for next two years or twelve months.
“Twelve months or two years back and forth, like they did with Deontay Wilder. We don’t want that.
Read More on The Sun
“Tyson’s capped it off and put a deadline on it as he wants it signed up.
“He wants to get in camp, and then get it under way. Get the fight on and give the fans what they want. We aren’t interested in back and fros.”
