Anthony Joshua, Tyson Fury may pocket $75 million each for their heavyweight unification bout
The highly-anticipated four-belt heavyweight unification bout between British boxers Anthony Joshua and Tyson Fury continues to generate interest as the clock ticks towards the minute the boxers gallantly engage each other in a clash of boxing titans at the pinnacle of the sport. Such a massive bout, with the high stakes on offer, is always a commercial rollercoaster and in no small terms.
That is why the ESPN story making the rounds of a site fee for the clash in excess of $150 million from Saudi Arabia is being proposed for this blockbuster heavyweight unification fight in July is making waves in the boxing scene.
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According to Mark Kriegel of ESPN, based on his sources, World Boxing Council (WBC) champ Fury (30-0-1, 21 KOs) will receive $75 million, and World Boxing Organisation (WBO), World Boxing Association (WBA) and International Boxing Federation (IBF) holder Joshua (24-1, 22 KOs) will get $75M as well for their fight.
Newsmen reported in mid-March that Joshua and Fury had agreed to a two-fight deal, although final details as to the location and date remained unresolved. It appears some Saudi Arabian financiers are on the verge of paying a historic sum to host the four-belt heavyweight unification bout.
A hosting tussle had been on the cards for some time since the deal was made public. A hosting arrangement in the United Kingdom was on the minds of organisers but with COVID-19 regulations that limit crowd attendance, which are still in place in many sporting events in the UK, left that option in the ice. It makes a guaranteed $150 million and a potential late summer date in Saudi Arabia a much more palatable offer.
The bout still has no fixed date even though July 24 has been previously mentioned in updates from Matchroom Boxing promoter Eddie Hearn, who is also Joshua’s promoter. Hearn has also mentioned early August as an alternative timing based on agreements with hosting backers.
As attractive as these figures are and the money involved for both fighters, the numbers still need to be verified by Hearn to confirm the claims of ESPN’s sources with the stamp of fact. It is still possible yet that Hearn could have a different say backed by the facts of the money deals that will go into this thrilling and suspenseful fight to get the true undisputed heavyweight champion of the world.
