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Fury Says Fury-Joshua 'Doesn't Look Like It's Going to Happen'

Fury blames Eddie Hearn and Anthony Joshua for holding out for more money, warning the long-awaited fight could collapse before it's signed.

By FightSplit Editorial Team · Published Aug 21, 2026

Anthony Joshua during a press conference ahead of a heavyweight bout
FightSplit

The all-British heavyweight fight that boxing has chased for the better part of a decade is wobbling again. Tyson Fury took to Instagram this week to warn fans the bout with Anthony Joshua — a fighter carrying a 29-4 record with 26 knockouts — may not get signed at all, and he laid the blame squarely on Joshua's camp and promoter Eddie Hearn for holding out over money.

The fight was announced with both men attached, originally slated for England. Then the financiers moved it to America, and Joshua's side pushed back hard. Hearn has since admitted there's been no progress on getting it staged in front of UK fans, which is where Fury's patience appears to have run out.

Fury Points the Finger

In a run of stories, Fury said the deal doesn't look like it's going to happen because Hearn and Joshua want more cash out of Turki Alalshikh, despite already banking heavily from Riyadh-backed deals in recent years. He rattled off boxing, darts and snooker arrangements the pair have benefited from, then accused Hearn of having the cheek to ask for still more. He also took a shot at Hearn's standing, calling him a small percentage of Joshua's wages rather than the man running the show.

Fury insists he's done everything asked of him. He said the venue drifted from England to Ireland to America, and that he told everyone he'd fight anywhere — he doesn't care about the location, he just wants the bout. He described himself as match fit and ready to go.

What's Actually at Stake

The subtext here is a familiar one: Fury framed the 'we want it in England' talk as leverage to squeeze a bigger American purse. Whether that's fair or not, the practical reality is a fight that's been years in the making is once again stuck on the financials rather than the sporting matchup. Fury signaled he wants Joshua to either agree to terms or walk away so he can move on.

For context on where Joshua sits, his most recent win was a sixth-round knockout of Jake Paul — a result that reset the market value conversation more than it clarified his standing in a stacked heavyweight division. Fury's message is blunt: sign it or he's out. For fans who've heard this dance before, that's the only part that sounds familiar.

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