The contest, should it go ahead, is expected to be worth close to £80 million, with Joshua taking 40 per cent and Fury 60 per cent
Anthony Joshua has accepted a 40 per cent split of the fight purse to face Tyson Fury this year, but the bout could be scuppered by a disagreement over a date.
Fury, the World Boxing Council heavyweight champion, made the offer to his fellow Briton on Monday, putting forward either November 26 at Wembley or December 3 at the Principality Stadium in Cardiff as the possible dates or venues. Eddie Hearn, Joshua’s promoter, said: “60/40 was the offer and they want a rematch clause.
“I spoke to AJ about that offer and I think AJ deserves more than 40 per cent, but he’s happy and I don’t make the decisions, he does.
“So, I went back this morning and said we accept 60/40, we want that reversed in the rematch… and we want to do the fight in December.
“Interestingly, Queensbury [the company of Fury’s promoter Frank Warren] have Dec 17 held at Principality Stadium, so that’s perfect for us.”
However, Fury was insistent on the dates that were offered. He commented on Instagram on Wednesday: “November 26 at Wembley or December 3 in Cardiff. That’s the dates, take or leave.”
Warren said the two sides would be meeting on Thursday to try to agree terms. The contest, should it go ahead, is expected to be worth close to £80 million. Joshua lost to Oleksandr Usyk three weeks ago in Jeddah, with the Ukrainian holding the other three world title belts.
Nonetheless, Frank Warren. Fury’s promoter, told Telegraph Sport that the two sides will be meeting on Friday, and if they can come to an agreement British sports fans could see the all-British clash this year. It may take Fury agreeing that December 17 date for a contest expected to be worth close to £80 million.
If the fight does go ahead, Hearn added yesterday that there are discussions over a rematch clause. “It was offered at 50/50… but we believe when AJ’s champion that 60/40 split should be reversed, so we don’t see that as an issue. We’re not moaning about the rematch clause, he’s the champion and we’ve had rematch clauses in our agreements when AJ’s been champion.”