Anthony Joshua could accept a £15 million step-aside fee then fight the winner of Oleksander Usyk vs Tyson Fury
Two-time world heavyweight champion Anthony Joshua is reportedly considering accepting a £15 million step-aside fee that would pave the way for Oleksander Usyk to fight Tyson Fury in an historic undisputed clash in the Middle East.
Joshua had been due a rematch with Usyk for his world title belts this spring, after he lost to the Ukrainian in London last year.
But the former Olympic champion is now open to a deal to step aside after a weekend of protracted talks among boxing’s movers and shakers delivered hopes of a breakthrough. The Principality Stadium in Cardiff has also been reserved for Fury to fight on March 26.
Matchroom Boxing promoter Eddie Hearn told Sky Sports: "I'm meeting with AJ and 258 management [on Tuesday] to go through plans for his next fight. We have a number of proposals and options to discuss. the goal remains the same, of course – to recapture the world heavyweight crown."
Usyk's promoter, Alex Krassyuk, added, "We are in talks regarding Fury fight since November. And though AJ gave his consent we have still not reached the final point in negotiations. And unless we get it [Fury fight], AJ rematch remains the basic option for us."
Described as “chaos” and “a mess” by Fury’s US promoter Bob Arum, nothing official has come from Joshua’s management team – nor indeed has the Londoner announced his new training team after visits to several renowned American gyms – but his promoter Eddie Hearn last week suggested that boxing fans could “expect the unexpected” in the coming week as the situation is resolved for the spring.
If Joshua accepts the financial step-aside deal, rather than go ahead with his rematch, it would almost certainly be expected that the Londoner would face the Fury-Usyk winner.
There has been little clarity over the next round of heavyweight superfights with purse bids for Fury’s WBC defence against Dillian Whyte, the mandatory challenger, delayed three times, most recently to Jan 26. Arum and Frank Warren, Fury’s promoter in the UK, maintain they are sticking to the 80/20 purse split mandated by the WBC following Fury’s victory over Deontay Wilder.
Warren dropped the biggest hint yet that matters could be resolved this week. “It’s a saga but if we can keep things between us, we can get something over the line one way or another,” he said.
“Everybody in boxing wants to see the undisputed fight between Tyson and Usyk, I want to see it just as a fan. So that is the fight we are trying to make.”
Arum told Telegraph Sport on Sunday that he was unable to comment, yet if Whyte’s team aims to go ahead and claim the right to fight Fury and accept the 80/20 purse split, it ought to come to a head on Wednesday evening at the rescheduled purse bid for Fury-Whyte.
Conor Benn believes it makes absolute sense for Anthony Joshua to step aside to allow Tyson Fury vs Oleksandr Usyk next if he receives £15million.
The unbeaten welterweight agrees the lure of a huge payout and then the chance to face the winner of Fury vs Usyk would be hard to turn down.
Benn admitted he would have no hesitation in doing the same if he were in AJ’s position.
He told talkSPORT: “I’m going to wear my heart on my sleeve and say what needs to be said. If anyone offered £15million, and I’ve got a big smile on my face, to step aside and fight the winner I’m telling you now I will take that £15m.
“No one can point the finger, at all. I don’t care who you are, you’re not in that position.
“Some people spend £20 a day on lottery tickets they are likely not going to win.
“When you’ve got £15m presented to you and you still get to fight the winner, by the way guys, who is the better man for winning, so you are still going into a hard fight.”
When asked if it makes sense for AJ to step aside, Benn said: “Of course it does, it makes the world of sense.
“We love fighting, but do you think we are risking our lives for nothing? No.”
HÖRFA are proud sponsors of British Boxing News