Anthony Joshua Took a Massive Pay Cut to Ensure Fury Fight Happens in the UK

The much-anticipated clash between Tyson Fury and Anthony Joshua is finally set, with the fight confirmed for December 11 at the Principality Stadium. British fans can breathe easy knowing this superfight will take place on home soil instead of rumored venues like Madison Square Garden in New York.

For Joshua, beating Fury would be a massive boost. Yet, reports reveal he has accepted a steep pay cut to ensure the event remains in the UK rather than shifting abroad. His decision means giving up millions in potential earnings just to keep the fight local.

A Long Road to This Moment

The possibility of these two meeting dates back years. When Joshua claimed the WBA title from Wladimir Klitschko in April 2017, Fury was struggling away from the ring due to mental health challenges. By late 2020, both champions held titles again and seemed poised to face off. But legal battles from Deontay Wilder delayed those plans as Fury had to honor a trilogy bout with Wilder first.

Since then, the fight's appeal faded. Joshua lost his belts after consecutive defeats to Oleksandr Usyk but bounced back with wins over less formidable opponents. Fury’s recent fights included a controversial victory against former UFC heavyweight champ Francis Ngannou, and then two losses to Usyk. Joshua also suffered a knockout loss to Daniel Dubois in between.

At this point, no titles will be at stake, and both men’s reputations have dipped. Still, after Fury’s win over Mariusz Wach and Joshua’s knockout of Kristian Prenga, the showdown was finally scheduled—with a UK venue.

Huge Earnings Lost to Keep the Fight Local

Joshua and promoter Eddie Hearn reportedly insisted the fight stay in Britain, even if it meant less money. Hearn revealed Joshua turned down a £10 million ($13 million) payday to make that happen.

"People started saying, ‘please bring the fight to the UK,’ and AJ started feeling that.To keep it in the UK, he's got to turn down eight figures plus. AJ goes to me, ‘whatever you think,’ and I'm like, ‘no, no, no, it's your money. I can't make that decision for you.’He asks, ‘what [do you] think I should do?’ and I told him I think the UK is where the fight should be because there's an edge for him to have this fight in the UK, but it's a lot of money. And he went, ‘f*** it, we'll do it in the UK.’"

On top of that, Turki Alalshikh stated during the press conference that moving the fight from New York to Cardiff resulted in an estimated £53 million ($70 million) loss overall.

Fans Face Late Start, But It's Better Than US Timing

British viewers might not get an early evening kickoff. Organizers aim to start after midnight UK time to attract American audiences. Still, this is preferable to a US-based start time that could push the live broadcast to 3 or 4 a.m. for UK fans.

• Fight Date: December 11, 2026
• Venue: Principality Stadium, Cardiff, UK
• Joshua's Pay Cut: Approximately £10 million ($13 million)
• Overall Financial Impact of Venue Change: £53 million ($70 million) lost