Anthony Joshua moves closer to Tyson Fury fight in New York
Anthony Joshua has edged closer to accepting a blockbuster bout against Tyson Fury in New York after a crucial financial condition was satisfied, reports BritPanorama.
The Watford-born heavyweight had previously insisted the long-anticipated all-British clash take place at Wembley, but momentum is now firmly building towards a Stateside showdown.
Joshua’s camp, led by promoter Eddie Hearn, submitted a series of requirements last month before they would countenance relocating the fight. Among those stipulations was full payment of Joshua’s purse from his most recent victory over Kristrian Prenga — a demand that has now been fulfilled.
Hearn is pressing for the remaining terms to be finalised before the week is out. Should all parties reach agreement, the fight could be formally announced for 20 November at Madison Square Garden.
The venue dispute has been the principal obstacle in negotiations for weeks. Joshua and Hearn had secured an understanding that the contest would be staged on home soil, with the iconic Wembley Stadium their preferred setting. However, streaming giant Netflix and the fight’s Saudi Arabian financiers, led by Turki Alalshikh, have been resolute in their desire to host the event across the Atlantic.
Netflix had already stoked anticipation by airing a promotional clip during WWE Monday Night Raw, despite no formal agreement on location being in place. Joshua’s camp has also sought an uplift in his purse to offset the considerably steeper tax burden he would face competing in the United States, a point that remains under active discussion between the parties.
Hearn told BoxingScene: “We’re all good from the last fight, and we’re all moving forward amicably. We don’t want to do the fight in the US, but we also understand it has to work for everybody. We’ve been banging our head against the wall on that for the last two months.” He outlined the core sticking point as the tax implications of fighting in America, which would significantly reduce Joshua’s net earnings. “We’ve set out our position, mainly in concern to the tax situation that will deplete his net purse by going to America, which can be rectified. There’s nothing unreasonable in there,” he added.
Time pressure is mounting, with Hearn acknowledging that talks of a press conference as early as next week leave precious little room for manoeuvre. “Our dream and our hope is they just turn around and go, ‘This is too messy, we’ll just do it in Wembley.’ But they’re adamant that they want the fight in America,” he conceded.
Fury, meanwhile, appears unfazed by the protracted negotiations. Speaking from Miami, where he is deep in preparation for what he described as “the biggest fight in boxing,” the former two-time heavyweight champion struck a relaxed tone. “I’m just keeping fit and staying out of trouble. When the fight arrives, it arrives,” he said, via Bloody Elbow.
The Gypsy King dismissed suggestions that Joshua’s camp might be reluctant to step into the ring, though he acknowledged the financial wrangling. “Eddie Hearn and AJ are looking for a few more quid, as always. I don’t think they are running scared. We’re prizefighters. But yeah, when the deal is right, I’m sure they’ll sign,” Fury added.
The 38-year-old also declared himself willing to face any opponent, provided the remuneration matched the occasion. Should the Joshua deal ultimately collapse over the venue impasse, Fury has signalled he will not be short of alternatives. His brother Shane Fury has confirmed that a replacement opponent would be arranged, with unbeaten German heavyweight Agit Kabayel — the WBC champion boasting a flawless 27-fight record — among the leading candidates. Croatian Filip Hrgovic has also entered the conversation following his remarkable IBF title triumph over the heavily fancied Moses Itauma at the O2 Arena on Saturday night. Hrgovic produced a stunning ninth-round stoppage to become Croatia’s first heavyweight world champion, and Fury wasted little time expressing his interest.
“If the money is right, I’ll fight anybody,” Fury declared, leaving the door firmly ajar for a world title tilt should negotiations with Joshua’s camp break down.
This saga underlines the complexities of high-stakes boxing negotiations. While the allure of an iconic venue like Wembley remains, the financial realities of the sport increasingly dictate outcomes. With both fighters at pivotal moments in their careers, this narrative is far from over, and the boxing world is watching closely.
