Anthony Joshua and Tyson Fury could share a purse worth nearly $200 million for their December 11 heavyweight clash in Cardiff, although the reported figures remain unconfirmed. The Joshua Fury fight is expected to deliver one of the biggest paydays in British boxing history.
According to reports cited by the BBC, both fighters could receive approximately $100 million (£75 million) each under a near-equal agreement. Earlier reports had suggested that each boxer would earn as much as £100 million.
The Times reported that negotiations took time because Fury initially sought a larger share. The two camps eventually agreed to an estimated 50-50 split. Their reported earnings would exceed their previous career highs of about £65 million ($85 million) each.
Joshua Fury Fight: Why the Bout Will Take Place in Cardiff
Joshua’s promoter, Eddie Hearn, revealed that the former heavyweight champion accepted a significant pay cut to ensure the contest remained in the United Kingdom.
Hearn said Joshua gave up more than £10 million, equivalent to about $13 million, after organisers considered staging the fight in New York.
Saudi Arabian boxing figure Turki Alalshikh, UFC president Dana White and streaming platform Netflix had pushed for Madison Square Garden as the venue.
However, Cardiff emerged as the preferred location because the Principality Stadium has a retractable roof, making it suitable for the major event.
Hearn said Joshua had to turn down an eight-figure sum to keep the contest in Britain.
Promoter Frank Warren also highlighted the financial scale of the agreement. He described the purses as enormous and suggested they could rank among the highest ever earned by British boxers.
Tickets Sell Out as Revenue Projections Rise
Demand for the heavyweight showdown has been strong. Organisers sold approximately 80,000 tickets within an hour on October 9, while more than 500,000 people reportedly waited in Ticketmaster’s online queue.
Ticket prices ranged from £88.50 to £13,128, including booking fees.
White estimated that ticket sales could generate around $34 million at the gate, which he described as a British record. Meanwhile, Netflix subscribers will not need to pay an additional fee to watch the contest.
The reported purse also draws comparisons with Fury’s second fight against Oleksandr Usyk in 2024. That contest reportedly carried a total value of about $190 million, although organisers did not disclose how they divided the money.
Final Fight Costs Remain Unclear
Despite the reported figures, neither fighter’s team has publicly confirmed the exact purse. Details of Netflix’s payment, sponsorship revenue and earnings from the undercard also remain undisclosed.
The Joshua Fury fight is scheduled for December 11 at the Principality Stadium in Cardiff. The fighters are expected to make their ring walks at around 1am on December 12, according to the report.
If the reported figures hold, the bout could set a new financial benchmark for British boxing, even as the precise earnings remain unknown.