Joshua Tells Hearn He'll Walk From Fury Fight

Anthony Joshua said he would walk away from a reported $100 million Netflix fight with Tyson Fury if Eddie Hearn tells him to scrap the deal.

Joshua, speaking on talkSPORT Boxing, confirmed his loyalty to his longtime promoter Matchroom boss trumps the payday. The heavyweight stated he would pull the plug alongside Hearn if the promoter grows frustrated with Dana White's expanding role in the negotiations through Zuffa Boxing.

Joshua's Stance on U.K. Fight and White's Influence

"My loyalty is with Eddie, so whatever he wants to do," Joshua told the outlet. "If he wants to pull the plug, I'll be right there tugging that plug with him."

Joshua framed the dispute as part of a broader fight to stage major heavyweight bouts in Britain rather than accepting higher purses to fight abroad. He recalled taking less money for a previous world title defense to keep the bout in the United Kingdom instead of moving it to Madison Square Garden in New York, which had been floated as a possible venue for the Dec. 11 Fury showdown.

The former unified champion said he has received what he described as corporate-level messages from unnamed higher powers unhappy with his resistance to certain contract terms. "I just want them to know that I fought for British boxing," he said, per MMA Mania's reporting of the talkSPORT interview.

Whether Joshua actually walks from nine figures to preserve his working relationship with Hearn will become clear as the Dec. 11 date approaches.

Reported via:

• MMA Mania — Bye! Anthony Joshua aligns with Eddie Hearn, agrees to ‘pull the plug’ on Tyson Fury fight to spite Dana White