Tyson Fury’s father says that the WBC champion will fight this summer, to face Anthony Joshua or another boxer entirely.
Fury, Joshua and their respective camps are in negotiations, with Matchroom’s Eddie Hearn still aiming for a summer fight that would be the first of two clashes between the pair.
The promoter has considered sites including Britain, Saudi Arabia, China, America, Dubai, Qatar and Singapore for the first bout, and Joshua and Fury have both been presented with the choices. However John Fury has suggested that time is running out, and promoter Frank Warren suggested the date may need to be put back.
"We will fight anyway, with or without AJ," John Fury said to Sky Sports.
"We have made this quite clear.
"I hope [Hearn] can make it. He's trying, doing the best he can.
"You wouldn't expect [Fury's promoters] Bob Arum to run all over the world aged 90, Frank Warren is 70. Eddie is just a young man! He does a great job, I like his interviews, he's a good character, his dad can be proud of him.
"I hope he hasn't shot himself in the foot by letting the cat out of the bag too early. I feel that's what he did because he wanted to be the one to announce it."
Tyson’s father explained that the financial circumstances arising from the coronavirus pandemic is limiting the chances of maximising the rewards of a summer fight.
He explained: "As of 9pm [on Tuesday], nothing has changed. I know they are working their backsides off to get this over the line.
"But it's proving to be a difficult one for Eddie Hearn. He's gone to all four corners of the world trying to sell this fight.
"Nobody wants to invest because it's the wrong timing for their business. They want to make money out of it, but the timing won't allow them to make money out of it.
"But the world wants it.
"They have been in a rush with it. When you rush a cake, it doesn't taste right.
"This fight could be made a lot easier, a lot simpler, in the coming months when people get back to easier ways, to normality.
"At this moment in time, nothing has changed. There are rumours, lots of rumours, but nothing set in stone as of 9pm [Tuesday night].
"I told him 'sit tight'. If they make it, good. If they don't…
"The clock ran out last Saturday. If we didn't want this fight we wouldn't still be negotiating. We want this fight. We will give it every opportunity to put this fight on in June or July.
"We are sitting tight, awaiting a contract, venue, date. We will sign. We are ready to go.
"We don't need a long training camp, we can go in the next five weeks."
If the Joshua fight is not made, then Fury explained that his son would need another fight in the interim to keep him sharp.
"If this goes on any longer, he will need tune-up fights," Fury said.
"Inactivity plays a big part in boxing. You've got to have activity under those lights.
"As a father, I wouldn't be doing my job right. I won't let it happen if my son isn't on it. And if I say something to Tyson, he will take it on board.
"If the fight happens in June, July or even August we will take it. But if it runs into next year then we need to fight."