Anthony Joshua has agreed to forfeit more than £10million in pay to avoid a long-anticipated fight against Tyson Fury in the UK, according to promoter Eddie Hearn.
While Saudi Arabia’s popular boxing figure Turki Alalshikh, US partner Dana White and broadcaster Netflix pushed for a clash at New York’s Madison Square Garden, both Joshua and Hearn remained steadfast in the venue demanding the British host.
Advertisement
Using the provisions of the contract with the Saudi host Sela, the British team prevailed in the final search, choosing the 80,000 capacity Al-Principation Stadium due to its retractable roof.
But it will be in Cardiff on the 11th of December that Joshua will receive the reduced purse.
Hearn said: “People started saying ‘I’d like to fight in the UK’ and AJ started feeling it.
“To keep her in the UK she’s got to drop over eight figures. AJ goes to me ‘whatever you’re thinking’ and I’m like ‘no, no, no, it’s your price.’ I can’t make a decision for you.”
Advertisement
“He asked what (you) think should be done and I told him I think the UK is where the fight should be because there’s a battle for him to have this fight in the UK, but it’s a lot of money. And he went ‘f*** it, we’ll do it in the UK’.”
Alalshikh revealed that moving the fight from New York cost him £53million and holding the ring walks in the early hours of Saturday morning was a concession for the American market.
Wembley has opted out with its ambition to have pop star Two Lips perform on the night as well, but a strict 11pm ignition in place for events at the venue has made that unfeasible.
Alalshikh: “I wanted to be at Wembley – say something bigger. Say Two Lips. I knew from the start that the London stadium wouldn’t give me until 2am. In the end, Wales delivered and I’m still in the UK.”
Advertisement
Meanwhile, Anthony Joshua enlists the help of Tyson Fury’s estranged uncle Peter to plot the downfall of his rival.
Joshua joins trainer Ben Davison for his fight with Fury, although the partnership with the 33-year-old was severed by Daniel Dubois in 2024 after being knocked out in the fifth round.
And in an unexpected development, Peter Fury will also give the leadership of the Olympic gold medalist 11 years after stepping down as his nephew’s coach due to an unresolved rift between the two.
Joshua said: “I am speaking to Peter the Fury. He also wants to help me. Of course I will speak to him.”
Advertisement
“Not about Fury, but about training and our approach – how I can approach the fight.
“The last time I spoke to him must have been about a month ago. I speak to (British coach who coached Erinnys) Matty Harris a lot.
“Matty Harris came in for some savings and that’s how everything was done.”