British heavyweight rivals Anthony Joshua and Tyson Fury are expected to earn up to £100 million each for their long-anticipated showdown, widely billed as the biggest fight in British boxing history.
Gatekeepers News reports that the bout, projected for the fourth quarter of 2026, is likely to take place in the Middle East with a 50-50 purse split agreed for the first fight. The announcement was made on Monday by Saudi boxing power broker Turki Alalshikh.
After years of failed negotiations—including a collapsed 2021 deal that was halted following a legal ruling in favour of Deontay Wilder—the path now appears clear for the two heavyweights to finally meet in the ring.
Many observers argue the fight comes years later than expected. At their peak, both fighters held world heavyweight titles, and a clash then would have determined the undisputed champion. Despite the passage of time, the bout still carries massive commercial and sporting appeal.
Now aged 37 and 36 respectively, Fury and Joshua are no longer titleholders, yet they remain among the sport’s biggest draws. Each is set to earn a staggering sum for a single night’s work, underlining the scale of global interest.
Momentum for the fight intensified after Fury returned from a 16-month retirement to defeat Russian contender Arslanbek Makhmudov at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium. The victory signalled his readiness for one final high-profile contest.
Known as “The Gypsy King,” Fury has already amassed significant wealth and had appeared content in retirement with his family. However, the long-awaited clash with Joshua proved too compelling to ignore.
Joshua, meanwhile, is also approaching the bout following a lucrative outing, having reportedly earned £50 million for his knockout victory over YouTuber-turned-boxer Jake Paul.
The former champion has faced personal challenges in recent months, including a tragic car accident in Nigeria that claimed the lives of two close associates. While he escaped serious physical injury, questions remain about the emotional impact.
Ahead of the Fury clash, Joshua is scheduled for a tune-up fight against Albanian boxer Kristian Prenga in Riyadh on July 25, a bout seen as low-risk preparation.
Bookmakers currently list Fury as a slight favourite, though both fighters enter the contest with vulnerabilities. Joshua suffered a heavy defeat to Daniel Dubois in 2024, while Fury has lost two of his last three bouts to Ukrainian champion Oleksandr Usyk.
Despite these setbacks, the long-awaited meeting between Joshua and Fury remains one of the most lucrative and highly anticipated events in modern boxing.
