Joshua Rejected U.S. Mega-Money For UK Fury Fight – Hearn

Anthony Joshua turned down the prospect of earning “many millions more” to ensure his proposed heavyweight showdown with Tyson Fury remains in Britain, promoter Eddie Hearn has revealed.

Hearn said Joshua could have commanded a significantly bigger purse by taking the long-awaited all-British clash to the United States, but the former two-time world champion and his team opted to honour their existing agreement and pursue the fight on home soil.

Speaking to iFL TV, Hearn also hit back at UFC chief executive Dana White’s reported attempts to become involved in the proposed bout.

“Dana White has tried to get involved in a fight that he has nothing to do with,” Hearn said.

“All we have ever done is say, ‘We’ve signed our contract. Just honour the contract that we’ve signed.’”

Hearn added: “Anthony Joshua could have taken many millions more to do the fight in America. We want the fight in Britain.”

According to the promoter, the strong public reaction to the proposed bout has further strengthened Joshua’s team’s resolve to stage it in the UK.

“The support that we’ve had on social media, my social media, A.J.’s social media, has made us double down on our principles on this,” Hearn said. “We’re not trying to hurt the fight.”

The comments add another dimension to the protracted negotiations surrounding what would be one of the biggest all-British heavyweight fights in boxing history.

Joshua and Fury have been linked with a meeting for several years, but the contest has repeatedly stalled amid negotiations, contractual issues and competing career priorities.

A potential fight in Britain would also carry significant appeal for both fighters, given their long-standing status as two of the country’s biggest boxing stars.

For Joshua, the decision to prioritise a UK venue over a potentially more lucrative American deal reflects the importance attached to finally delivering the domestic blockbuster after years of failed negotiations.

The two former world champions have yet to meet professionally, leaving the proposed showdown as one of the most anticipated heavyweight contests of the era.