Joshua willing to take a pay cut to make Fury fight in UK

By Boxing News - 12/02/2020 - Comments

By Doug Gillen: IBF/WBA/WBO heavyweight champion Anthony Joshua is willing to take a pay cut to fight against WBC champ Tyson Fury in the UK in 2021.

Joshua (23-1, 21 KOs) says he’s already taking a reduction in pay for his title defense against Kubrat Pulev (28-1, 14 KOs) on December 12th, and he’s willing to do it again for the bigger unification fight against Fury (30-0-1, 21 KOs) next year.

Aj wants to give his loyal fans a gift by letting them get a chance to see him and Fury battle it out in the UK.

Hopefully, by the time Joshua and Fury fight in 2021, fans will be allowed back into sporting events in large numbers.

But before Joshua can think about the Fury match, he’s got to beat his IBF mandatory Pulev, and that may not be easy.

Image: Joshua willing to take a pay cut to make Fury fight in UK

Joshua willing to take a pay cut for Fury

“Yeah, why not? I’m fighting Pulev for a massive pay cut. We have to keep the sport alive. We’re doing it now, so I wouldn’t mind doing it again,” said Joshua.

“No one live in my head rent-free. Tyson Fury doesn’t live in my head, and Deontay Wilder doesn’t live in my head,” Joshua said to Yahoo Sports news.

“I’m working hard, paying my own rent. Whether people call Tyson Fury #1 is down to public opinion. I know in my world, I’m #1.

“The only way to prove who’s number #1 and not leave it to public opinion is to get us in the ring, and that’s why the fight against Pulev is so important because it’s a banana skin.

“I have to go in, do a good job, and that’ll lead me to prove I’m #1. I’m worried about Pulev. I’m not worried about Tyson Fury being #1 at the minute,” said Joshua.

Fans would like to see Joshua take a pay cut beginning with his December 12th fight with 39-year-old Pulev because that fight will be £24.95 rather than the standard £19.95.

Image: Joshua willing to take a pay cut to make Fury fight in UK

British boxing fans believed that because of the pandemic and the Joshua-Pulev fight being viewed as a mismatch, the price would be £19.95.

AJ not looking past Pulev towards Fury

“I have a level of respect for him,” Joshua said about Kubrat Pulev. “He’s been in with [Wladimir] Klitschko.

“Even though he lost to him, he’s still been in there with him. He’s got something about him that has led him to the championship, and I believe when someone challenges for a championship, they become 25% better than what we’ve seen.

“It’s that natural. I just can’t underestimate this guy and remember I’ve lost before and I never want to lose again. Back to the Tyson Fury question, I want to compete with him one day.

“The only way to prove who’s #1 is to get past Pulev, and having the opportunity to compete with him. That’s how I’ll go about proving I’m #1,” said Joshua.

Image: Joshua willing to take a pay cut to make Fury fight in UK

It’s a wise decision for Joshua not to look beyond his fight against Pulev because he’s been beaten in an upset once in his career. The last thing AJ needs is to overlook Pulev and suffer his second loss.