Francesco Pianeta would love nothing more than to upset the odds by beating Tyson Fury this weekend, but the Gypsy King already has his sights set on Deontay Wilder.

The general consensus is that the Italian is a step-up from Sefer Seferi - after all, it would be hard to find a less competitive opponent - but that he is merely another stepping stone on the former heavyweight champion's comeback trail.

Fury and Wilder are now thought to be very close to agreeing a deal and that's something Anthony Joshua never achieved.

Despite months of rumours, negotiations over a unification fight between AJ and the Bronze Bomber fizzled out.

Eddie Hearn promised at the start of the year that it would happen "in 2018, unquestionably" - so, what went wrong?

As has been well-documented, there were numerous deadlines, u-turns, and a reported $50million offer from Wilder's camp. On the surface, it seemed very strange that the talks fell through.

However, Frank Warren was party to some of the lesser-known details behind the scenes and he revealed all he knew in a press conference to promote Fury's fight with Pianeta.

Admittedly, Warren is not directly involved with Joshua, as Fury pointed out, but he did help to put an initial contract together, which gives him more insight than most into why Joshua's fight with Wilder collapsed.

Who was responsible? 

"Fights happen for two reasons and they don't happen for two reasons. One: The money's got to be right. Two: You either fancy the fight or you don't," Warren told the assembled media.

"Wilder, Tyson, the money's OK and they both want the fight. Joshua, somebody didn't want the fight - Wilder wanted it, made a huge offer, I think it's been well reported. I saw the thing they put together for him.

"When they were putting the bid together, the offer for Joshua I helped with it... BT were very interested in broadcasting it. It wasn't about being on Sky it was about who came up with the most money."

AJ's camp didn't want it 

The promoter reiterated that it was Wilder who was the driving force and judging by his comments, it sounded as though it was Joshua who was dodging the American, not the other way round. Warren added:

"The bottom line of it is he [Joshua] was offered a $50million guarantee and if he lost the fight a rematch with a guarantee of $30m. That was the bottom line, it could have been more than that.

"So for me, the money's right, that's huge money. I can't see a boxer walking away from a guaranteed 80million minimum. So the only reason the fight didn't happen, they didn't fancy it.

"Who doesn't fancy it, I don't know whether it's the promoter doesn't fancy it...I know the trainer doesn't fancy it. He never makes any comment but [Joshua's trainer] Robert McCracken doesn't fancy that fight. But that fight's gone."

The irony is that it is in his interest that the fight was never agreed, as that has opened the door for Fury.

Only one belt would be on the line, but according to Warren at least, it's Fury vs Wilder that is going to determine who is the best heavyweight in the world. 

Do you believe Warren's version of events? Is it AJ's fault it didn't happen? Have your say in the comments.