Tyson Fury has publicly warned that his much‑anticipated showdown with fellow British heavyweight Anthony Joshua could be in serious jeopardy after the champion’s camp allegedly demanded a larger purse. The two fighters have been in ongoing negotiations to lock in a November showdown, with Madison Square Garden in New York being floated as the preferred venue.
However, Fury posted a video on social media suggesting that the deal might fall apart because Joshua’s promoter, Eddie Hearn, is pressing for additional money. In the clip, Fury explained that the negotiations have stalled not because of any sporting issue but due to financial expectations. He said, "Quick update for you. It doesn't look like they are going to sign the fight and it doesn't look like it is going to happen all because [Joshua's promoter] Eddie Hearn wants more money." Fury went on to criticize the repeated requests for larger fees, pointing out that Joshua’s team has already benefited from a series of lucrative agreements over the past few years.
"They have already had that much money off Turki (Alalshikh) over the last few years—boxing deals, darts deals, snooker deals, everything," Fury said. "And yet they have the audacity, the cheek of flea‑bitten rats, to ask for more money from the same source." Sky Sports reported that Joshua has already signed a contract for the bout and that Matchroom Boxing continues to work toward a formal announcement.
The promoter’s chief executive, Frank Smith, described the current week as "critical" for the negotiations but remained hopeful. "It would be disappointing if it isn’t in the UK," Smith told Sky Sports, "but if it means we get to see the fight, we all want that to happen. Let's see how things play out." Smith clarified that the original agreement, signed in March and April, stipulated that the fight would take place on British soil. He added that discussions are now focusing on alternative venues, including the possibility of MSG, as well as potential involvement from the Saudi boxing delegation and The Ring Magazine.
"November is still possible, perhaps later in the month," he said, "but we need a lot of progress in the next seven to ten days to give both fighters an eight‑to‑ten‑week training camp away from promotional duties." The background to this standoff dates back to 2021, when Fury and Joshua previously failed to reach a financial settlement. Those talks collapsed after a U.S.
judge ordered Fury to honor a contractual clause that forced him into a third fight with Deontay Wilder, effectively putting the Joshua clash on hold for several years. Fury’s manager, Spencer Brown, expressed unease about the continued delays. "Everyone’s got a bit of doubt in their mind," Brown told Sky Sports.
"If you had asked me a week ago, I would have said no, but now it’s a little concerning that nothing has moved forward. We need to get this fight on." The stakes are high for both camps.
Fury, who has positioned himself as the world’s heavyweight champion, sees a fight with Joshua as a chance to cement his legacy and finally defeat a fellow Briton who has long been his biggest rival. For Joshua, a victory over Fury would likely secure his claim as the premier heavyweight in the sport and boost his marketability worldwide. Financially, the bout is expected to generate massive revenue streams from pay‑per‑view sales, gate receipts, and international broadcasting rights.
Both fighters have already signed multi‑year deals with Saudi billionaire Turki Al‑Alshikh, who has been instrumental in funding high‑profile boxing events in recent years. The additional money that Hearn is reportedly seeking could be tied to a larger share of the pay‑per‑view split, higher guaranteed purses, or ancillary revenue from sponsorships.
If the negotiations fall through, the boxing world could see another missed mega‑event, similar to the failed Fury‑Joshua talks of 2021 and the later fallout of the Fury‑Wilder trilogy. Fans have been clamoring for a British heavyweight showdown for years, and the commercial appeal of a New York venue adds another layer of intrigue. Madison Square Garden, often called "The Mecca of Boxing," would provide a historic backdrop and likely attract a global audience, but it also introduces logistical challenges, such as travel, time‑zone differences for broadcasting, and additional costs that could further strain the purse negotiations. Meanwhile, both fighters continue to train and prepare for a possible clash.
Fury has been vocal about his readiness, emphasizing his confidence in his own conditioning and his belief that he can handle any opponent. Joshua, on his side, has been focusing on sharpening his technique and building a strategic game plan to counter Fury’s unorthodox style.
The next few days will be decisive. If the parties can bridge the financial gap, a November fight—whether in the UK, New York, or another neutral location—could finally materialize, delivering one of the sport’s most anticipated match‑ups in recent memory. If not, the heavyweight division may remain fragmented, with other contenders stepping forward to fill the void while the Fury‑Joshua saga continues to linger in the realm of "what‑could‑have‑been."