Joshua’s 258 Management and Matchroom said on social media that communication had ceased due to the death of Queen Elizabeth II and that they were awaiting a response. Frank Warren, Fury’s promoter, has since replied: “The contract will be with you very soon.” Fury recently challenged Joshua to a highly-anticipated all-British showdown and offered the two-time world champion a 60-40 purse after it emerged that a potential undisputed clash against Oleksandr Usyk would likely have to wait until 2023. The 34-year-old initially highlighted November 26 at Wembley or December 3 in Cardiff as possible dates for the match. The Gypsy King marked his return to the UK with a sixth-round knockout victory over Dillian Whyte at Wembley in April, and previously reiterated plans to retire before informing the WBC that he intended to continue his career at the end of last month. Joshua, who suffered a loss to Usyk in last month’s rematch, entered the WBC rankings at No. 6 this week. The pair had been scheduled to fight in August 2021 before the plans were scuppered by an arbitrator who ruled that Deontay Wilder was contractually entitled to a third fight against Fury, which the American heavyweight would lose by knockout in the 11th round. More to come…
