Promoter Frank Warren has disclosed that there is still a long way to go until the fight between Tyson Fury and Anthony Joshua can be officially confirmed.
Last week Fury and Joshua’s promoter Eddie Hearn announced that a two-fight deal for next year has been agreed.
But while there is a financial agreement in place for a 50/50 purse split, Fury’s promoter Warren insists this by no means represents official confirmation that the fight will happen.
“There’s so much going around, but there has been no concrete offer made from anybody, so it’s miles away,” Warren told talkSPORT.
“The fact is, Tyson and [Deontay] Wilder have got to get their rematch on and I’m desperate to get it on this year – but I doubt it’ll happen before November.
“All that has been agreed is a 50/50 split, but that’s all we were ever prepared to do.
“The rest of it is going to be sorted out in due course – because these guys have contractual commitments.”
Fury’s US promoter Bob Arum echoed those thoughts when he joined talkSPORT last week.
Both parties are keen for an all-British showdown between Fury and Joshua in order to crown the first undisputed heavyweight champion of the world for more than 20 years.
However, before embarking on what would be one of the biggest fights in boxing history, the two fighters have challenges to overcome first.
Fury is locked in a contractual agreement for a trilogy fight vs Deontay Wilder, while Joshua must overcome mandatory challenger Kubrat Pulev next.
“I didn’t look at it [the Fury vs Joshua deal] as being real news,” Arum told Adam Catterall and Gareth A. Davies on Fight Night.
“Joshua has a fight before the end of the year with my guy – Kubrat Pulev – a very tough Bulgarian.
“And Tyson has a third fight to do with Wilder and that is not an easy fight.
“So again, sure, if they come through those fights why wouldn’t we get together and do a two-fight deal for Fury and Joshua?”
