Tyson Fury has given Anthony Joshua until Monday to sign the contract for their heavyweight world title fight.
Fury and Joshua appeared to be on a collision course for a showdown in Cardiff on December 3 when a contract was sent to the challenger last week. But Joshua's promoter Eddie Hearn has admitted the paperwork was not in order and has since been revising it with his opposite number George Warren.
Fury has taken matters into his own hands, however, and insisted he will walk away from the deal if he does not have a signed contract within 48 hours. "I was optimistic about three weeks but it shouldn't be taking this long to sign a contract," he told BT Sport.
"We'll know by Monday anyway because if it's not done by Monday I'm moving on. I'm not waiting around for some guy who's lost three of his last five fights.
"He's lucky I'm giving him a world title shot but I dont mind chucking him a bone, you know, but I don't want them to start dictating s*** to me. He is an invited guest at my party, my rules, so if you want to play the game, come to the banquet and take your seat."
Fury had been quiet when negotiations started but has been increasingly vocal as they appeared to encounter delays. The heavyweight world champion insists he will fight in December regardless, and has named Manuel Charr as an alternative opponent.
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Fury took to social media on Friday to hit out at Joshua, saying: “He’s had the contract for I don’t know how long and ain’t signing it. You little sausage, you do not want a fight. However, I will be fighting on December 3, if this sausage does not sign this contract which I don’t think he is because I don’t think he’s got the b******s to.”
Fury also hit out at Oleksandr Usyk, the WBA, IBF and WBO titlist, after the Ukrainian claimed in an interview on Thursday that the self-styled Gypsy King was “afraid” of an undisputed title clash. Fury said: “Usyk, you little s***house, I’m afraid of you? I’ll put my fist right through the side of you, you little sausage.
