Joshua vs. Wilder/Fury winner in Saudi Arabia

[Ruthless-RKO]

Anthony Joshua receives 'huge site offer' to face Deontay Wilder-Tyson Fury winner in Saudi Arabia

"We have a huge site offer in place for that [Wilder-Fury winner] fight to take place," Eddie Hearn tells Sky Sports News

Anthony Joshua's team have received a "huge site offer" to stage an undisputed world title clash against the winner of the Deontay Wilder-Tyson Fury fight in Saudi Arabia.

Britain's heavyweight star regained his world titles with a rematch win over Andy Ruiz Jr at the Diriyah Arena in December and promoter Eddie Hearn hopes to head back to the Middle East for a blockbuster battle at the end of 2020.

Wilder defends his WBC title against Fury in Las Vegas on February 22, while Joshua plans to put his WBA, IBF and WBO belts at stake against Kubrat Pulev in London in May or June.

But the Matchroom Boxing boss wants to split a massive fight purse down the middle for Joshua and the reigning WBC champion after holding recent talks with Saudi officials.

"We have to try and make that happen," Hearn told Sky Sports. "Right now, the fight that Anthony Joshua wants is the winner of Wilder and Fury.

"We've been there before. Both guys have turned down 60-40 for that fight and now we have no other option, but to offer them 50-50, because the fight will never happen, subject to the boss giving the thumbs up, which I think he knows that's the way to make this fight.

"We have a huge site offer in place for that fight to take place."

Asked about Saudi Arabia, Hearn added: "A big option. We have a partnership out there in Saudi Arabia.

"They put the money up for the Andy Ruiz fight. Everything they promised, they delivered. They want this fight bad and when they've got that kind of attitude and mentality, it's going to be difficult to beat."

Bulgarian Pulev is next in line for Joshua at the IBF's mandatory challenger, with a fight announcement expected in the middle of February as Hearn assesses possible venues such as The Emirates and Twickenham.

"Kubrat Pulev is the frontrunner," said Hearn. "I think we've established that the IBF mandatory was called before the WBO mandatory.

"Pulev is the fight for me, and more importantly for the boss, AJ, he wants it here. He's boxed now in Saudi Arabia for his last fight, he's boxed in New York before that.

"For me, it's time to come home. The bad news is that Kubrat Pulev wants as much money as possible for this fight and he realises there's more money in Istanbul, or Saudi Arabia, or the Congo, or Nigeria, but AJ is going to call the shots.

"He may end up having to let the Pulev fight go, if he won't fight in the places that we'd like him to fight and that is in the UK. We're looking at dates at the end of May to the beginning of June for the Pulev fight. Everywhere is in play. Emirates Stadium, Tottenham Hotspur, The Olympic Stadium, we've also reached out to Twickenham as well.

"The Principality Stadium has got some dates for us, so in an ideal world, AJ's next fight will be Kubrat Pulev in London, but this is a far from an ideal world, particularly in the boxing game."

The WBO had also ordered Joshua to make a mandatory title defence Oleksandr Usyk, who is now close to agreeing an alternative fight with Derek Chisora on March 28.

[Ruthless-RKO]

So they want Pulev in London (Spurs or Twickenham) or possibly Cardiff.

They want Usyk at Wembley Stadium

Saudi have thrown money to have Joshua vs. Wilder/Fury there.

[gilgamesh]

If this keeps up it will hurt his popularity in England I would think. All of the big fights are for the Muslims?

[Ruthless-RKO]

If this keeps up it will hurt his popularity in England I would think. All of the big fights are for the Muslims?

Well non-Muslims can travel.. If it's Jeddah or Riyadh..

He's also keen on Nigeria and/or Congo

Hearn said he next fight should definitely be in the UK and it most likely will.

I personally don't mind Saudi fights, as we in the UK will get them early prime time.

PPV buys were great for Ruiz-AJ 2 and around 7k Brits travelled I think.

[gilgamesh]

You couldn't pay me to go to Saudi Arabia. Let alone me pay to go over there for f*cking anything.

[Onetimeonly]

The wilder/fury fight has a rematch clause that the loser can trigger. Hard to imagine either of them not doing that and letting the other cash in.

[KiwiRider]

You couldn't pay me to go to Saudi Arabia. Let alone me pay to go over there for f*cking anything.

X2
They can throw as much oil money around as they want. It still doesn't change what they are doing.

[Ruthless-RKO]

Hearn Sees Saudi Arabia Beating Out UK To Secure Joshua-Fury

Last month, Anthony Joshua traveled to Saudi Arabia to get revenge, when he outboxed Andy Ruiz over twelve rounds to recapture the IBF, IBO, WBA, WBO heavyweight titles.

Saudi Arabia dropped down a heavy amount of money to beat out all of the possible locations and venues who were trying very hard to secure the Joshua-Ruiz rematch.

At the moment, Saudi Arabia has continued to flex a massive wallet as the country pursues numerous mega-fights that are being discussed for the future.

Eddie Hearn, the promoter for Joshua, believes Saudi Arabia could easily beat out the UK to secure the rights to that contest.

"I can’t see [Joshua-Fury landing in the UK]. For me, it should happen in the UK. And if there’s a way to do it we’ll do it. But do you think I can go up to the guys and say, 'you can make £150 million each to do it in Saudi or £40 million in the UK?' It doesn’t work like that," Hearn explained to IFL TV.

"If it was the difference of £10 million each that’s different, but it’s not, it’s double to go somewhere else, and it can’t be ignored. Especially with a fight like that, it’s a one-off. Prince Khalid loves his boxing and that’s one of the reasons why we’re in the relationship, and there’s going to be many, many more. It’s big plans now for Saudi. The first one was so successful that it’s really the go ahead to do three or four more in 2020."

[Ruthless-RKO]

He sounds like a right greedy fvcker.

He said he wants the fight in the UK. If they really did want the fight in the UK and for the UK fans not having to buy plane tickets and instead just train tickets, then they can do it in the UK.

£150m each? He must be mad. The PPV in the UK would likely be priced at £100.

These guys are already multi-millionaires. Give back to the fans that MADE you multi-millionaires.

[MarkMcBurney]

He sounds like a right greedy fvcker.

He said he wants the fight in the UK. If they really did want the fight in the UK and for the UK fans not having to buy plane tickets and instead just train tickets, then they can do it in the UK.

£150m each? He must be mad. The PPV in the UK would likely be priced at £100.

These guys are already multi-millionaires. Give back to the fans that MADE you multi-millionaires.

I don't know if it's just a perception but I get the feeling Tyson is the sort of fella who literally doesn't give a toss about the money and would actually rather have the fight in the UK even for half the money. Maybe I'm wrong but I get that impression.

[danconnollyeire]

Odd world. Traditionally boxers would earn their money from gates, PPV, sponsorship. Now their making money off the Saudi tax payer and for that reason, the biggest domestic HW fight since Lewis Bruno will take place in Saudi fvcking Arabia

[margaret thatcher]

It should be the opposite. Instead of exporting top British fights there, we should import those comfy as f@ck looking Saudi mens clothes

[Ruthless-RKO]

It should be the opposite. Instead of exporting top British fights there, we should import those comfy as f@ck looking Saudi mens clothes

You know you can buy them in the UK.

[Ruthless-RKO]

Odd world. Traditionally boxers would earn their money from gates, PPV, sponsorship. Now their making money off the Saudi tax payer and for that reason, the biggest domestic HW fight since Lewis Bruno will take place in Saudi fvcking Arabia

There’s no tax in Saudi.

[oogiebe]

He sounds like a right greedy fvcker.

He said he wants the fight in the UK. If they really did want the fight in the UK and for the UK fans not having to buy plane tickets and instead just train tickets, then they can do it in the UK.

£150m each? He must be mad. The PPV in the UK would likely be priced at £100.

These guys are already multi-millionaires. Give back to the fans that MADE you multi-millionaires.

This...especially THIS.

[Coco]

Money talks, did Ali suffer from fighting in Zaire or the Phillipines?

[Boxerbeetle]

It should be the opposite. Instead of exporting top British fights there, we should import those comfy as f@ck looking Saudi mens clothes

You know you can buy them in the UK.

They wouldn’t be quite as comfy after 5 minutes in that British fine rain that soaks you through.

[margaret thatcher]

It should be the opposite. Instead of exporting top British fights there, we should import those comfy as f@ck looking Saudi mens clothes

You know you can buy them in the UK.

True, though I guess chavs would beat me up if I wore it here, maybe a change of cultural is more important

[Ruthless-RKO]

You know you can buy them in the UK.

True, though I guess chavs would beat me up if I wore it here, maybe a change of cultural is more important

Why where are you?

[danconnollyeire]

Odd world. Traditionally boxers would earn their money from gates, PPV, sponsorship. Now their making money off the Saudi tax payer and for that reason, the biggest domestic HW fight since Lewis Bruno will take place in Saudi fvcking Arabia

There’s no tax in Saudi.

There's no personal income tax. There is tax

[danconnollyeire]

Money talks, did Ali suffer from fighting in Zaire or the Phillipines?

Not even slightly the same

[Ezzard]

The wilder/fury fight has a rematch clause that the loser can trigger. Hard to imagine either of them not doing that and letting the other cash in.

Wilder could KO Fury in 2-3 rounds... Or Fury could win 12-0. Both of these are possible. Don't think there would be a rematch in those circumstances. Probably they'd get paid step step aside.

If it's controversial again or close then the rematch will almost definitely happen.

[Onetimeonly]

The wilder/fury fight has a rematch clause that the loser can trigger. Hard to imagine either of them not doing that and letting the other cash in.

Wilder could KO Fury in 2-3 rounds... Or Fury could win 12-0. Both of these are possible. Don't think there would be a rematch in those circumstances. Probably they'd get paid step step aside.

If it's controversial again or close then the rematch will almost definitely happen.

I couldn't see wilder not triggering it under any circumstances. You never know with fury.

[moogie101]

Obviously this is a smack in the face for the domestic fans who have supported him, but boxing's a tough sport & regardless of how much he's already made I'm OK with boxers making as much money whilst they can. However with out the huge draws to keep the casual fans interested in attending live boxing I am concerned for the domestic scene.

It just seems that Saudi Arabia are desperate to change their image & are paying out to get sporting events like big boxing, WWE & UFC events.

[Ezzard]

It feels similar to sportsmen who went to South Africa during apartheid.