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Anthony Joshua Accepted Huge Pay Cut to Keep Fury Fight in UK

The long-anticipated superfight between Tyson Fury and Anthony Joshua is officially set for December 11 at the Principality Stadium in Cardiff, much to the delight of British boxing fans. Rumors had suggested the bout might happen at Madison Square Garden in New York, but Joshua insisted on a home turf showdown.

Joshua’s choice came with a hefty price. Reports reveal he sacrificed a significant chunk of his potential earnings by agreeing to fight in the UK instead of the US, where purses would have been far higher.

A Lengthy Wait for the Battle of British Heavyweights

This fight has been in the works for years. Back in April 2017, Joshua claimed the WBA title by defeating Wladimir Klitschko, while Fury was struggling with mental health issues and away from boxing. A deal had nearly been struck in late 2020 when Fury held the WBC belt and Joshua regained his after beating Andy Ruiz Jr., but Deontay Wilder's legal battles for a trilogy match delayed things.

Since then, momentum faded. Joshua lost his belts after consecutive defeats to Oleksandr Usyk before winning three fights against less notable opponents. Fury edged past Francis Ngannou in a controversial decision but later lost two bouts to Usyk. Joshua also suffered a knockout loss to Daniel Dubois during this period.

With no titles at stake and both fighters’ reputations diminished, the matchup seemed less appealing. Yet following Fury’s win over Mariusz Wach and Joshua’s dramatic knockout of Kristian Prenga, the fight was finalized with a UK venue.

Joshua’s £10 Million Sacrifice

Eddie Hearn, Joshua’s promoter, revealed that AJ gave up around £10 million ($13 million) to keep the fight on home soil.

“People started saying, ‘please bring the fight to the UK,’ and AJ started feeling that. To keep it in the UK, he's got to turn down eight figures plus. AJ goes to me, ‘whatever you think,’ and I'm like, ‘no, no, no, it's your money. I can't make that decision for you.’ He asks, ‘what [do you] think I should do?’ and I told him I think the UK is where the fight should be because there's an edge for him to have this fight in the UK, but it's a lot of money. And he went, ‘f*** it, we'll do it in the UK.’”

Adding to the financial impact, Turki Alalshikh stated at the press conference that relocating the event from New York to Cardiff caused losses estimated at £53 million ($70 million).

Timing Challenges for UK Fans

While the fight location favors British fans, organizers are aiming for a post-midnight UK start time to attract American viewers. Still, this is more convenient than a US start time would have been, which could have meant waking up at 3 or 4 am for fans across the pond.

  • Fight Date: December 11, 2026
  • Venue: Principality Stadium, Cardiff, UK
  • Joshua’s Earnings Sacrificed: Approx. £10 million ($13 million)
  • Reported Overall Loss Due to Venue Change: £53 million ($70 million)

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