Tyson Fury is forcing the problem on Anthony Joshua.
The non-retired WBC heavyweight world champion took to social media on Tuesday to reveal the financial compensation he has in mind for his potential British counterpart.
“I get bombarded with messages about how much I’m going to pay AJ, and everyone says 80/20, 70/30, 75/25,” Fury said. “The real answer is that I have offered him 60/40. 40% of this amazing fight because I want this fight to happen. He no longer has excuses not to take it. He cannot say that I have lowered it and offered him 20% or 30%. I have offered people 40%. Take it or leave it. Let us know.”
Fury has been putting pressure on Joshua in recent days after unified heavyweight champion and two-time Joshua conqueror Oleksandr Usyk said he would prefer to fight Fury next year in an undisputed fight.
Fury wants to get back in the ring before 2022 is out, and now he’s changing his frequently changing stance to Joshua.
Joshua responded to Fury’s challenge, stating on social media: “I don’t participate in online discussions just for influence, so if you really want to, yell.”
258 Management. I’ll be ready in December.”
Fury and Joshua previously went to writing and agreed to a two-fight deal in March 2021.
Joshua, however, lost to Usyk in September 2021 and messed up the plans. Fury kept his own end of the stick by knocking out Deontay Wilder in an October trilogy fight in what was also a 60-40 split purse in favor of “The Gypsy King.”
Fury’s co-promoter Frank Warren doubled down on Fury’s comments on Tuesday, telling TalkSport: “We’ll send them a written offer today. My son George spoke with [Matchroom Boxing head] Eddie Hearn yesterday. It is we who have made the approach to give AJ a great opportunity to come back to the highest level against world champion Tyson. He’s willing to make that voluntary defense, so we’re going to send the offer today and then you’re going to have to look at it and decide if you want to take this with both hands.
“Tyson is being extremely fair and when these come out, if they want to publish them, everyone will be shocked. For [Joshua] Getting back to a mandatory position or to compete for a world title will take a long time for him, so in my opinion he should take this with both hands.
“Otherwise [Joshua’s] credit, he has come out saying he is ready. I’m not talking bad about them or the other side, all we want to do is make this fight.”
Hearn has revealed that Joshua plans to fight again in December with or without Fury, and that setting up the fight with Fury is the priority.
Manouk Akopyan is a sports journalist, writer and television reporter. He is also a member of the Boxing Writers Association of America and the MMA Journalists Association. He can be reached on Twitter, Instagram, LinkedIn and YouTube at @ManoukAkopyan, by email at manouk[dot]collect[at]gmail.com or at www.ManoukAkopyan.com.
