Just one day after Anthony Joshua's promoter Eddie Hearn claimed the world heavyweight title unification megafight with Tyson Fury was on the verge of being confirmed and that he had "never seen a fight fall through at this late a stage", Bob Arum claimed Hearn had actually gone "radio silent" on him.
In what is far from the first time Arum has opted to pour cold water on any positive update from Hearn days after the Matchroom Boxing chief's quotes have appeared online, Fury's American representative told Boxing Scene that he has not been informed of the developments with a Saudi Arabia date and venue that Hearn recently discussed.
“Eddie Hearn is busy trying to sell the London Bridge,” Arum said. “Let me tell you – last time I talked to Eddie was early last week and he said he was going to have a signed agreement from the Saudis in 24 hours. Well, he’s a little late.
"Wouldn’t you be pessimistic if you haven’t heard from him or anybody for a week? We’re the promoter with Frank (Warren) of Fury and we haven’t heard from Eddie in a week.”
Arum had frequently contradicted Hearn's positivity on the ongoing matchmaking saga, once publicly wishing that his counterpart would speak to the media a lot less on the topic of AJ-Fury and frequently responding to talk of an overseas venue with "I'm not packing my bags yet"
But despite telling Boxing Scene last week "yes" when asked if he can finally ready to 'pack his bags' for Saudi Arabia, Arum has changed his stance in the week since.
“They’re not packed,” Arum said. “Maybe we’ll breathe some life into Wilder, and Fury will fight Wilder and Joshua will fight (WBO mandatory challenger Oleksandr) Usyk."
Many fans are growing tired of the issue dragging on without an actual date being set for the fight, and in particular the weekly theatre that is Hearn's promise of news "soon" followed by Arum, Frank Warren or the Furys claiming it may all through.
To hear Arum suggest a Fury-Wilder trilogy fight could happen after all is particularly confusing, given how long the veteran American promoter has been claiming that Wilder missed his chance with the rematch clause apparently expiring last October.
Wilder and his team have been going through arbitration in an attempt to get the third fight with the current WBC champ after all, though Arum claimed the process is "a waste of money".