RED HOT Anthony Joshua could have his career put on ice until 2024 by the Saudi paymasters.
After the cautious April 1 win over Jermaine Franklin, the London 2012 legend and promoter Eddie Hearn promised three fights in 2023.
But Dillian Whyte insists their three-line email offer for an August 12 showdown was a fake.
And now the head of boxing in Saudi Arabia – where 33-year-old AJ is supposed to meet Deontay Wilder in December – says that Christmas cracker could be shelved until the Spring.
Crazy-money Skills Challenge chief Amer Abdallah revealed the first quarter of 2024 is now being considered for big heavyweight fights, which will leave frustrated fans fuming.
He said: “The intent was never to have them (AJ, Tyson Fury, Oleksandr Usyk and Wilder) inactive.
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“I was hopeful everyone would keep their records intact and then get to December or the beginning of next year, or whenever the fight ends up happening.
“I believe, in this transitional period, we are still a far way out from the end of this year – and the beginning of next year – to start deciding what happens.
“These guys need to stay active and the most important thing is what happens after these keep-busy fights that leads us into Q4 or Q1 for the mega-fights.”
Whyte, 34, is fuming his name was used to tease a huge summer trilogy decider with his old foe.
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The Body Snatcher, who won a 2009 amateur slugfest but lost their 2015 pro battle, was sent a vague offer at the start of June and blanked with the numerous calls and messages he made to Hearn to continue talks.
He told SunSport: “I told them I wanted the fight, I didn’t turn it down and I didn’t price myself out.
"In fact, I have not had a single discussion about it with Matchroom since the so-called offer on June 2.
“It is out of order to use me to boost AJ’s value in negotiations for the Wilder fight, without any intention to fight me.
“There hasn’t been a single conversation with me, my lawyer or any of my team.
"I chased him with a follow-up email on June 13, to tell him that the offer didn’t feel real and that AJ obviously didn’t want the fight and was going to wait for his Saudi payday in December.
“Heavyweight boxing is in an absolute mess at the moment and bulls*** like this doesn’t help.”
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