Venue and purse disputes cast doubt over Fury-Joshua heavyweight showdown

Former world heavyweight champion Tyson Fury has publicly cast doubt over his scheduled November fight against Anthony Joshua, attributing the uncertainty to significant disagreements over the venue and financial arrangements. In a series of Instagram stories posted on Friday, Fury described the situation as unlikely to proceed, pointing to what he characterised as excessive financial demands from his rival and promoter Eddie Hearn.

The core of the dispute appears to be a conflict between domestic and international interests. According to media reports, Joshua and Hearn have signed a contract for the bout to be staged in the United Kingdom. However, Saudi organisers, led by Turki Alalshikh, chairman of the General Entertainment Authority, are pushing for a move to the United States, with Madison Square Garden in New York emerging as the leading option.

Fury accused Joshua and Hearn of being "money-thirsty" and "disgusting," arguing that they had already secured substantial earnings from Alalshikh through various boxing, darts, and snooker deals over recent years. He claimed that despite this history, the pair had the "audacity" to request a larger purse from the Saudi chairman.

The potential collapse of the fight marks a significant setback for one of the most anticipated events in British boxing history. The bout was originally expected to take place in November after both fighters signed a contract with Alalshikh. However, the lack of clarity over the final date and venue has stalled negotiations.

Fury stated that if the deal does not proceed, he intends to move on and fight another opponent. He directed a personal jab at Joshua, suggesting the former champion lacked the courage to face him, calling him a "little coward" in his social media posts.

This development follows a history of failed negotiations between the two fighters. In 2021, plans for a face-off fell apart after a US judge ruled that Fury had to face Deontay Wilder in a trilogy fight instead. Fury, who turns 38 in August, announced his return to boxing in January after retiring in December 2024 following a loss to Oleksandr Usyk.