Anthony Joshua agreed to sacrifice over £10 million in potential earnings to secure his highly-anticipated showdown with Tyson Fury on British soil, according to promoter Eddie Hearn. Despite strong efforts by Saudi boxing figure Turki Alalshikh, UFC president Dana White, and Netflix to host the bout at New York’s Madison Square Garden, Joshua and Hearn were steadfast in their insistence on a UK venue.
Using contractual arrangements made with the Saudi entertainment company Sela, Joshua and Hearn ultimately triumphed in their effort, choosing the 80,000-seat Principality Stadium in Cardiff—largely because of its retractable roof. However, agreeing to hold the fight in Cardiff on December 11 meant Joshua had to accept a lower payday.
Hearn explained, “People kept urging to bring the fight to the UK, and AJ really felt that pressure. To keep it here, he had to turn down an eight-figure sum. When he asked me what he should do, I told him I thought the UK was where the fight should happen, even though it meant sacrificing a lot of money. His response was, ‘F*** it, we’ll do it in the UK.’”
Alalshikh revealed that relocating the event from New York cost him £53 million, with the timing of the ring walks—scheduled for early Saturday morning—being a compromise for the American audience. Although Wembley Stadium was his top choice, his plan to feature pop star Dua Lipa was scrapped due to the venue’s strict 11 p.m. curfew. “I wanted it at Wembley—tell the mayor, tell Dua Lipa. I knew from the start that London wouldn’t allow a stadium run until 2 a.m. In the end, Wales delivered, and it’s still part of the UK,” he said.
On another front, Joshua has brought Tyson Fury’s estranged uncle, Peter Fury, back into his corner as he prepares to face his British rival. Joshua reunited with trainer Ben Davison for this fight after previously parting ways following his 2024 knockout loss to Daniel Dubois. Remarkably, Peter Fury, who stopped coaching his nephew years ago after a family breakdown, is now advising Joshua on training and strategy. “I speak with Peter Fury; he’s willing to help me,” Joshua said. “It’s not about Fury but about our training and approach. I last spoke to him about a month ago. I also train with Matty Harris, who is coached by Peter Fury, and that’s how this all came about.”
Fan Take: This news is huge for fight fans because it guarantees that one of the biggest boxing events of the year will stay in the UK, preserving a key part of the sport’s tradition and fan engagement. Additionally, the unexpected involvement of Peter Fury adds an intriguing layer of strategy and drama that could influence the outcome, making the rivalry even more intense and compelling.
Source: sports.yahoo.com
