Eddie Hearn has alleged a breach of contract ahead of Anthony Joshua's planned heavyweight clash against Tyson Fury. The all-British bout finally looked set to happen after years of speculation and failed attempts to organise a fight between the two former champions.
The pair were expected to meet in November, but uncertainty reigns over where the bout will take place, raising fresh doubt over the deal. Joshua and his promoter Hearn have signed a contract for it to be staged in the United Kingdom, while Saudi Arabian organisers are pushing for a move to the United States.
Separate Contracts with Sela
Joshua and Fury have separate contracts with Saudi-owned Sela. New York's Madison Square Garden is understood to be Sela's preference so that the fight, which will broadcast on Netflix, can cater for American audiences.
Hearn has now alleged to IFL TV that there has been a breach of contract for the fight, launching a sweary rant. He said: "Imagine you get in a position, or you do a deal - the biggest deal of your life, the biggest moment of your career, and you're told 'here's the money, you're going to be based here, this is what you've gotta do, blah blah blah'. And you go 'unbelievable, oh sign me up!'
Hearn's Tirade
"You sign for it, you're moving forward, you're absolutely buzzing. And then someone comes to you and goes 'oh by the way, we're actually going to give you less money now, and you're going to have to do a little bit more, and it's not even going to be where you thought it was going to be, it's going to be somewhere you didn't even sign for.'
"And then you've got people going 'oh just sign the contract'. No, f*** off. Do. As. We. Agreed. We don't break contracts, and that is why we are fighting."
"If they want to breach the contract, that's on them. You can't criticise us for signing a contract and agreeing all terms, being ultra-happy, we're ready to go and they want to change a load of terms and then say it's our fault. What the f***?"
Compensation Concerns
Hearn told IFL TV last week that a list of changes required for the fight to take place in America had been sent to Sela. The promoter says the main change concerns compensation for Joshua because of the different tax implications of fighting Stateside.
The 47-year-old said: "In layman's terms, by staging the fight in America, Anthony Joshua receives less money than he would do if the fight was in the UK where he was contractually agreed."
Fury responded by criticising Joshua and Hearn on social media. He said: "It is what it is. Same old cliche a decade later. Keep running you little cowards." In further posts containing expletives, he added: "I'll move on and fight somebody else but just know you never had the guts to fight Tyson Fury, ever, you little coward."
