Did Fury expect Joshua-level money from the Saudis?

By Boxing News - 03/07/2023 - Comments

By Charles Brun: Tyson Fury may have rejected the Saudi deal offered to him because he expected similar money or more significant than what they gave to Anthony Joshua last August when he fought Oleksandr Usyk in Jeddah.

If Fury was banking on getting Joshua money from the Saudis, he’s delusional because he’s not the same kind of star as him. It doesn’t matter that Joshua is currently beltless and has lost three out of his last five fights; he’s still the bigger marquee attraction.

Turning down the Saudi’s offer was the worst thing Fury could do because the UK money would never match what he could get by fighting in the Middle East. Now,  he’s wrecked the Saudi deal, and he probably won’t get anywhere near what he was offered to fight in the UK, and Usyk likely isn’t happy about it.

For Fury to turn down the money he was offered by the Saudis, it could mean that he was comparing what was offered to him to what Anthony Joshua received for his last fight against Usyk in August in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia.

If Fury thought he would get at least as much if not more money than what Joshua got from the Saudis, that would be a predictable reason for him to reject their offer, believing that he was worth as much or more.

Fury says he’s not involved in negotiations with Usyk because it gives him “stress and anxiety.”

Tyson says he’s got his management to deal with the negotiations, which he has no patience for. However, Fury (33-0-1, 24 KOs) rejected the offer from the Saudis, which means he’s more involved than he lets on.

“I don’t get involved in all the business side anymore because it used to give me a lot of stress and anxiety,” said Tyson Fury to Fight Hub TV when asked if Oleksandr Usyk is causing the delay in the negotiations by asking for too much or if he feels he should get the lion’s share.

John Fury: “Tyson deserves A-side money”

“Tyson is ready to fight anyone in the world, but you’ve got to pay him what he’s worth,” said John Fury about the negotiations. “I don’t think Usyk is worth 50-50 because Usyk on his own without Tyson Fury can’t sell the O2 out.

“Tyson brings a 94,000 crowd on the world’s media, and he deserves to be the A-side, and he deserves A-side money, not Usyk. It’ll probably never get made if he doesn’t get treated right.

“Tyson was having to take the poor end of the money when he was challenging for the title. Now, Tyson is the WBC champion. Dance to his tune or find somebody else,” said John Fury.

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