Eddie Hearn says Anthony Joshua took ‘eight-figure’ pay cut for Tyson Fury fight

Anthony Joshua agreed to forfeit more than £10million in earnings to ensure his long-anticipated fight against Tyson Fury takes place in the UK, according to promoter Eddie Hearn.

While Saudi Arabia’s influential boxing figure Turki Alalshikh, US associate Dana White and broadcaster Netflix pushed to stage the clash at New York’s Madison Square Garden, both Joshua and Hearn remained resolute in demanding a British host venue.

Utilising the contractual provisions established with Saudi entertainment company Sela, the British pair ultimately prevailed in their quest, selecting the 80,000 capacity Principality Stadium largely due to its retractable roof.

But for it happen in Cardiff on December 11, Joshua had to accept a reduced purse.

Hearn said: “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’.”

Alalshikh revealed moving the fight away from New York cost him £53million and holding the ring walks in the early hours of the Saturday morning was a concession that had to be made for the American market.

Wembley was his preferred choice with his ambition to have pop star Dua Lipa also performing on the night, but the strict 11pm curfew in place for events at the venue made it unviable.

Alalshikh: “I wanted it at Wembley – tell the mayor. Tell Dua Lipa. I knew from the beginning that London would not give me the stadium until 2am. In the end, Wales has delivered and that’s still in the UK.”

Meanwhile Anthony Joshua has enlisted the help of Tyson Fury’s estranged uncle Peter as he plots the downfall of his British rival.

Joshua has reunited with trainer Ben Davison for his battle with Fury despite having parted company with the 33-year-old after his fifth-round knockout by Daniel Dubois in 2024.

And in an unexpected development, Peter Fury will also provide guidance to the Olympic gold medallist 11 years after stepping down as his nephew’s coach because of a rift between the two that has not been healed.

Joshua said: “I speak to Peter Fury. He’s willing to help me as well. Yeah, I’ll speak to him.

“Not about Fury but about our training and our approach – how I can approach the fight.

“The last time I spoke to him must have been about a month ago. I speak to (British heavyweight who is trained by Fury) Matty Harris quite a lot.

“Matty Harris comes down for some sparring and that’s how it all came about.”