Eddie Hearn gets reply to addendum, Anthony Joshua gets paid, Tyson Fury talks continue
Eddie Hearn has confirmed that Anthony Joshua has been paid for his July 25 contest versus Kristian Prenga in Saudi Arabia.
This follows a report by Boxing Scene’s Lance Pugmire last month that Matchroom Boxing had sent an addendum with regard to staging the long-anticipated contest between Joshua and Tyson Fury at New York’s Madison Square Garden on November 20. Joshua’s original contract stated the bout must take place in the UK, but the event organizers, Sela, and the broadcaster, Netflix, wish for the contest to take place in America.
Hearn and Joshua’s most notable demand was for the heavyweight to collect his full purse from his second-round finish of Prenga.
Asked Tuesday by Boxing Scene if Joshua has now been paid for the contest, Hearn said: “Yeah, we're all good from the last fight, and we're all moving forward amicably. We don't want to do the fight in the US, but we also understand it has to work for everybody. And at the same time, we're basically being told, if you don't do the fight, we only want to do the fight in the US, which we don't agree with. We don't understand.
“We've been banging our head against the wall on that for the last two months. So, like I said, we've set out our position, mainly in concern to the tax situation that will deplete his net purse by going to America, which can be rectified. I think they're happy to do that. Everything else, there's no abnormal requests. It's up to them. There's nothing else to discuss.”
Boxing Scene last week reported that Hearn was yet to hear back after submitting his addendum, but confirmed today he received a response “two days ago”.
“We will need to make a decision this week. They've replied. They have our terms. It's up to them,” Hearn said. “I mean, we don't want to do the fight in the US, but if they really want it in the US, these are our terms.
"There's nothing unreasonable in there, to be honest with you. There's not one of those terms that was mentioned in the leaked email that is in the addendum. They're all stuff related to the fight. If they want it there, they'll sign it. If not, we'll be very happy, and we'll do it in the UK. We're speaking multiple times a day, but we're running out of time. I mean, if you want to do the fight on November 20, and they're talking of a press conference next week, it's Tuesday. Do you know what I mean? But the ball's in their court.”
Hearn was then asked if he is confident of getting the fight over the line.
“I have no idea. I mean, I think so,” he replied. “But our dream and our hope is they just turn around and go, ‘This is too messy, we'll just do it in Wembley.’ But they're adamant that they want the fight in America.”
