Anthony Joshua v Tyson Fury is tantalisingly close, yet boxing finds new ways to torment its fans and test their patience over and over again.
That’s because the two defining fighters of a generation in British boxing now appear destined to finally meet in New York, not the UK.
The money is coming from Saudi supremo Turki Alalshikh, who has bankrolled Zuffa Boxing, which is also fronted by UFC chief Dana White in an ambitious foray from the octagon to the ring.
But after building a legacy in the UK and despite both fighters currently a worse version of themselves since being dethroned as world heavyweight champions, the most powerful figures at the fight’s broadcasting partner Netflix appear to be adamant that the US location and timezone, despite some farcical discussion over ring walks in London in the early hours of the morning, must prevail.
Joshua’s promoter Eddie Hearn appears resigned to this eventuality, despite reiterating his desire for it to take place in the UK, so what is the delay and could the fight really slip through boxing’s fingers once more? And would anybody much care now?
When and where could the fight take place?
The date long since floated has been Friday, 20 November at Madison Square Garden, New York, though this is not confirmed, with Hearn originally under the impression that the UK would host the fight, likely at Wembley Stadium.
Why is there a delay in announcing the fight?
Well, even though both fighters have signed contracts to fight each other, the terms state that the fight must take place in the UK, according to Hearn.
The Matchroom promoter is therefore seeking an addendum to the contract in exchange for agreeing to change the location, with additional compensation and requests required to satisfy Joshua’s camp.
Enjoy 185+ fights a year on DAZN, the Global Home of Boxing
Never miss a fight from top promoters. Watch on your devices anywhere, anytime.
ADVERTISEMENT. If you sign up to this service we will earn commission. This revenue helps to fund journalism across The Independent.
Enjoy 185+ fights a year on DAZN, the Global Home of Boxing
Never miss a fight from top promoters. Watch on your devices anywhere, anytime.
ADVERTISEMENT. If you sign up to this service we will earn commission. This revenue helps to fund journalism across The Independent.
“Everybody involved in the fight – not the fans, certainly not – wants the fight to take place at Madison Square Garden, apart from Anthony Joshua and Eddie Hearn, who have a clear contract that says the fight must take place in the UK,” Hearn told The Independent this month. “We wouldn’t have signed the contract that we signed if this fight was in America. And people just presume, ‘They’re gonna get paid more to go there;’ we don’t want the money, we’d rather it was in the UK.”
There is also a dispute with Zuffa Boxing, fronted by White, a rival of Hearn’s, with the pair clashing since moving into boxing, with a desire for the new outfit to promote the event and position him as the third person in many promotional shots with the two fighters.
How can this be resolved to confirm the fight will go ahead?
Hearn has been very clear, with the new requests sent to Saudi Arabia’s event management/entertainment company Sela.
“We’re not asking for anything new, we’re just asking for our contractual obligations to be honoured,” Hearn told IFL TV, adding that the changes merely concerned ticket requests, security, and transportation assurances.
While Joshua is pushing for more money due to tax issues concerning the fight taking place in the United States. “By staging the fight in America, Joshua receives less money than if it took place in the UK. From there, straight forward stuff, travel, accreditation, media schedule, nothing out of the ordinary, but yes, we expect payments to be met outstanding, we want things to be done correctly.”
Hearn also denied a separate dispute with Sela, over money concerning Matchroom’s darts and snooker events and projects, which was initially linked to the dispute over the Joshua v Fury fight.
Hearn also stated that he had not heard from Sela for “three or four days.”
With the provisional date for the fight in November now 13 weeks away, it no longer appears a guarantee both men will meet in the ring.
“They have to review the addendum,” Hearn concluded. “If they’re happy, we move forward, if they’re not, we won’t, they have an obligation to stage the fight in the UK.”