Anthony Joshua has stopped negotiating.
Joshua and Tyson Fury agreed on terms for November 20, then spent weeks stuck on where it happens. Joshua’s contract specifies the United Kingdom. Fury has been open to going abroad, and Netflix, which is set to broadcast, prefers the United States. Madison Square Garden was the compromise on the table.
Eddie Hearn told IFL TV that Matchroom was working toward it until Thursday morning.
If everything that was requested was covered, I think there’s a good chance it happens in the US. Yesterday and the day before, we were working towards that. But this morning, AJ was like, ‘You know what: —- these guys. Make them fight in the UK, where we signed for.’
Hearn puts the change down to Fury’s public posturing. Fury spent this week naming Agit Kabayel and Daniel Dubois as alternatives and saying he would not wait around much longer.
I feel like we’ve just had enough now, really. I feel like Fury’s just trying to duck out the fight, with his videos and stuff like that.
So he’s kind of just made AJ go, ‘All right, you want me to make a decision? I’ve made my decision, honour your contract.’
The addendum is the sticking point. Matchroom asked for compensation for the tax hit Joshua takes fighting in America, for Sela to produce rather than Zuffa Boxing, and for the outstanding purse from Joshua’s July knockout of Kristian Prenga, alongside guarantees on tickets, security and travel. Turki Alalshikh and Sela fund the event with Netflix, and Hearn says those requests have not been met.
AJ’s kind of just gone, ‘You’ll fight anywhere? Okay, fight where we signed to fight. I’m standing firm on the UK.’ What was presented to us was a number of changes to a contract we signed. We don’t accept those changes.
The other clause has not moved either. Hearn has said repeatedly that Dana White and TKO Group stay barred from any involvement, and that the ban came from Joshua rather than from him.
