Tyson Fury has changed his mind about the proposed heavyweight boxing showdown with Anthony Joshua, three days after pulling out.
The World Boxing Council champion had on Monday declared that the fight was off because Joshua failed to meet his deadline for signing the contract.
However, Fury has now set his rival another deadline and called for him to sign the contract for the much-anticipated superfight today.
“My promoter Frank Warren convinced me to let Queensberry carry on negotiating with your team this week, despite me knowing that you were never going to do this fight,” Fury said, according to Sky Sports News.
“So the deadline was Monday. I allowed Frank to continue doing meetings with your team and your broadcasters and all that. Now we have BT, DAZN and ESPN all on the same page. They are happy with everything, they are all ready to rock and roll.
“You guys ask for a lot of stuff, you want to be co-promoters when you’re a voluntary challenger. Guess what, I said give it them, let them be co-promoters.
“You wanted full transparency, even though you’re not an equal shareholder in this party. You know what I said? Give them full transparency, I’ve got nothing to hide, I’m not trying to rob anybody, I’ve not robbed anybody of a penny in my life.
“So now you’ve got full transparency, everything is clean and fair. Now Joshua, the ball is really in your court, son.”
Joshua, who has dual Nigerian and British nationality, had previously insisted that he would sign the contract, but not before this lawyers had a proper look.
In a direct challenge to him, Fury declared today: “Everybody is done. If you’re a man, and if you’ve got any sort of dignity and pride about you, you’ll get this contract signed today. This is it. There is no more days, weeks, months, you’ve had the contract now for over two weeks and you still haven’t signed it.
“Show the public that you’re really the big coward that I know you are, and don’t sign it. I don’t care either way if you sign it or you don’t, it makes no difference to me at all. You’re a beaten man and I’m a world champion. I’m chucking you a massive bone, but I know I can punch a face in so I’m willing to give you an opportunity.
“There’s nothing more to do, everyone is happy. Get your team onto mine, they will be available all day, like they’ve been available the last two weeks. Get this contract signed!
“Let the British fans have what they want. There is no running, you have to fight me. You cannot escape. The Fury is coming.”
Fury, 34, is unbeaten in 33 fights, winning 32 and drawing one. He has won 23 of his fights via knockout.
On his part, 32-year-old former World Boxing Association, World Boxing Organisation and International Boxing Federation champion Joshua has won 24 of his 27 professional fights, 22 of them via knockout.
He has lost three times, once to Andy Ruiz Jr and his last two fights to Oleksandr Usyk.
