Eddie Hearn Says British Fans Can Thank Anthony Joshua for UK Fury Fight
Eddie Hearn said British fight fans will have Anthony Joshua to thank if the long-awaited heavyweight clash with Tyson Fury is staged in the United Kingdom.
The Matchroom promoter made that case after Joshua refused a richer offer to take the fight to the United States.
Hearn said the extra money was on the table and the decision still belonged to his fighter.
“He turned around to me with the two offers on the table and said, ‘No, I just want to stick to the original contract. I want to do this fight in the U.K.,’” Hearn said.
Joshua’s deal with Sela and Turki Alalshikh requires a British venue. Fury’s contract does not.
That split has driven weeks of argument over Wembley Stadium, Cardiff’s Principality Stadium, and Madison Square Garden.
Dana White and TKO have pushed an American date that would better suit a Netflix primetime window.
Hearn said Joshua would not move for the raise.
“Anthony Joshua won’t take a little bit more money to do the fight in America, because he cares,” Hearn said. “He cares where the fight is. He cares about British boxing, and he cares about the contract that he signed.”
He went further when asked about White’s involvement.
“Dana White thinks you can throw a little bit of money at someone and they’ll dance to your f*cking tune,” Hearn said. “Well, guess what? Not on A.J.’s watch. That is why, unfortunately for these people, the fight will not be taking place in America, because Anthony Joshua is not a sellout.”
The promoter has been clear that the UK campaign is not only his idea.
“The reason that I’m doing this is because I want the fight in the U.K., but my instructions from Anthony Joshua are make sure this fight is in the U.K.,” Hearn said.
He also said online support from British fans hardened that position and that Alalshikh has noticed the reaction.
Hearn added that if a UK announcement comes, “there will be unbelievable celebrations from the British public.” He even said Joshua “should be knighted” for holding the line.
No official date or venue has been released. Hearn said this week that talks with Netflix and Sela are active and that any announcement would come from Alalshikh.
Wembley remains the romantic choice, though its 11 p.m. curfew is a problem for a late Netflix start. Principality Stadium has been discussed because of its roof and a possible later finish.
Both men already completed their warm-up assignments in July. Fury stopped Mariusz Wach in seven rounds in Thailand.
Joshua was dropped twice in the first round by Kristian Prenga in Jeddah, then stopped him in the second. Those wins kept the contracted heavyweight date alive.
The pairing has been discussed for the better part of a decade. A 2021 version collapsed when Fury had to finish his trilogy with Deontay Wilder.
Neither man holds a world title now. Joshua is 36. Fury is 38. The commercial size of the fight is what still makes the venue fight so sharp.
A British stadium show would give home fans the domestic heavyweight event they have asked for since both men were champions. An MSG card would favor the American television clock and the larger international purse.
Hearn’s latest message is that if the fight stays home, the credit belongs with Joshua, not with the promoter who has spent the week arguing about it.
The next move is Alalshikh’s. Until that announcement lands, the only firm line on the table is the one Joshua already gave his promoter: honor the contract and keep the fight in Britain.