Tyson Fury dropped a bombshell that’s gonna sting: his highly anticipated fight with Anthony Joshua “doesn’t look like it’s going to happen.” We were all geared up for one of the biggest showdowns in British boxing history this November, but now it feels like it’s dead in the water after Fury went on a social media tirade, pointing fingers directly at his British rival and promoter Eddie Hearn.
The Blame Game Is On
Fury did not mince words, saying the fight’s not happening “all because Eddie Hearn and that want more money.” He went off in a series of Instagram stories, calling Joshua and Hearn “disgusting” and “money-thirsty.” Talk about a verbal slugfest outside the ring! Fury didn’t stop there, either. He dubbed them “little cowards,” dismissed Hearn as a “bag carrier,” and questioned Joshua’s mindset. “I’ll move on and fight somebody else but just know you never had the guts to fight Tyson Fury, ever, you little coward,” he stated in an expletive-laden post. Fury, with his impressive 36 wins out of 39 professional fights, sounds absolutely done with the drama.
Where The Deal Fell Apart
The big holdup? Where the heck this fight was going to be. Joshua and Hearn signed a contract for the UK, but Saudi organisers are pushing hard for the United States. Turns out, Sela, who has separate contracts with both Joshua and Fury, really wants New York’s Madison Square Garden. Why? So the Netflix-broadcast fight can grab American audiences. Hearn told IFL TV that a list of changes went to Sela, and the main one is all about Joshua’s compensation. If the fight’s in America, Joshua takes home less cash due to different tax implications compared to the UK, where he was contractually agreed to fight. “In layman’s terms, by staging the fight in America, Anthony Joshua receives less money than he would do if the fight was in the UK where he was contractually agreed,” Hearn explained.
Lingering Doubts and Unanswered Calls
Hearn’s list of addenda, approved by Joshua and his lawyer, covered more than just money. We’re talking practical stuff like travel, accreditation, and media arrangements. But here’s the kicker: Hearn said he hasn’t heard a peep from Sela for three or four days, with “no feedback yet” on those changes. There were reports Thursday about changes being presented to Saudi organisers, but Hearn claims those reports came from a leaked email and insisted those specific issues were not in his official list to Sela. He did confirm Matchroom met with Sela about money owed from other contracts, stuff like darts, snooker, and previous boxing events. When asked if Joshua was still owed money from his last fight against Kristian Prenga, Hearn dodged it, saying, “That’s a contractual position that will be left for another day.” Sounds like a whole lot of moving parts that just aren’t moving.
So, what’s next? Fury says he’s moving on to fight someone else. With this kind of public meltdown, it feels like the dream of Joshua versus Fury might just be dead, leaving boxing fans wondering what could have been.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by BBC Sport.
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