British heavyweight champion Tyson Fury has called off his intended fight with British-Nigerian boxer Anthony Joshua after he failed to make the deadline set by The Gypsy King.
Joshua had earlier agreed to terms to fight Fury in December after the latter gave him a title shot following Joshua’s loss to Ukrainian Oleksandr Usyk in their title rematch last month.
Joshua assured that he would sign the contract on Sunday in order to make the fight happen, stating that his lawyers are handlers of the contract.
However, Fury gave Joshua a self-issued ultimatum of 5:00 p.m. on Monday to sign the contract otherwise he would pull out of the fight.
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Joshua and his camp failed to sign the contract before the deadline and the WBC champion subsequently announced that the chance of the all-British heavyweight fight happening was over.
“It’s official. D Day has come and gone. It’s gone past 5 pm Monday, no contract has been signed. It’s officially over for Joshua. He’s now out in the cold with the wolfpack. Forget about it. Idiot. Coward!,” Fury said on his instagram story.
He added: “I always knew you didn’t have the minerals to fight the Gypsy King. Good luck with your career, and your life.”
Fury immediately announced that he is looking forward to fighting former WBA heavyweight champion Mahmoud Charr next.
“Looking forward to fighting a man who wants to fight & has fire & desire. fought some of the best fighters & now stepping up again! get in there charr,” he said.
At the time of filing this report, Neither Joshua nor his camp has responded to the latest development.