ANTHONY JOSHUA’S all-British heavyweight showdown with Tyson Fury is set to be the fifth-richest fight in boxing history.
And the much-anticipated bout, now pencilled in for 2021, is expected be the most lucrative fight EVER to not feature Floyd Mayweather.
The fight would be the most lucrative ever to not feature Floyd Mayweather
It is expected that the unification battle would earn as much as £150million, taking into account the purse, pay-per-view purchases, gate receipts and sponsors.
British fans will be desperate for the historic event to take place on home soil… but are unlikely to get their wish, with the fight more likely to be held in Saudi Arabia or LAs Vegas.
Eddie Hearn secured a site fee of over £30m for AJ’s Diriyah rematch with Andy Ruiz Jr back in December, and could expect to get much more for a 2021 battle with the Gypsy King.
We’re in a good place. It’s fair to say that, in principle, both guys have agreed to that fight. Two fights.
Eddie Hearn
Fury today confirmed that he and Joshua have agreed a two-fight contract after much speculation.
He tweeted: “It’s official FURY VS JOSUAR AGREED FOR NEXT YEAR, I got to smash @bronzebomber first then I’ll annihilate @anthonyfjoshua #WEARESPARTANS”.
And Hearn told Sky Sports: “We’ve been talking to [Fury’s management team] MTK, giving them the assurances from Joshua’s side that all the details on the structure of the deal is approved from our side.
“And it is from Fury’s side, as well.
“We’re in a good place. It’s fair to say that, in principle, both guys have agreed to that fight. Two fights.
“There’s lot to overcome in the meantime. We’re moving in the right direction.
“I’m confident that both guys have giving their blessing for the fight to go ahead.”
Fury’s last fight with Deontay Wilder was believed to have earned over £50m in US PPV sales alone.
And this era-defining bout would be expected to sell even more.
Standing in its way, however, are the two fighters queued up to face the pair respectively before the end of this year.
Joshua will need to get past IBF mandatory challenger Kubrat Pulev, while Fury will face Wilder for a third time – potentially on Boxing Day in Sydney.
But should it go ahead, only fights featuring retired five-weight king Floyd Mayweather will have ever earned more.
The most lucrative earned an eye-watering £678m back in 2015, when the American finally faced Manny Pacquiao in Las Vegas.
Fury – Wilder II is believed to have made over £50m in US PPV sales aloneCredit: Rex Features
AJ reclaimed his belts from Andy Ruiz Jr last time out in Diriyah, Saudi ArabiaCredit: Reuters
The only fight to ever come close to that figure was his subsequent ten-round victory over MMA star Conor McGregor, which pocketed £662.5m.
Mayweather’s bouts with Oscar De La Hoya and Canelo Alvarez are the only other two in history that will have beaten that likely £150m AJ-Fury figure.
This will put it ahead of legendary fights such as Lennox Lewis vs Mike Tyson – and the latter’s 1997 rematch with Evander Holyfield.
Floyd Mayweather’s 2015 showdown with Manny Pacquiao will take some beating as the most lucrative fight of all timeCredit: Getty Images – Getty
Tyson Fury confirms Anthony Joshua fight deal is agreed and vows to ‘annihilate’ him after he ‘smashes Wilder’s face in’
Source: Boxing - thesun.co.uk
