Anthony Joshua’s promoter, Eddie Hearn, has revealed that Joshua has asked for $40 million as a step-aside fee to allow a Heavyweight unification bout to hold between WBC Heavyweight champion Tyson Fury and WBA, WBO, and IBF Heavyweight champion, Oleksandr Usyk.
A unification fight would create the first undisputed champion in the Heavyweight in a long while. Earlier this year, a different unification fight was already planned out between Fury and Joshua until Joshua lost his titles to Usyk when they fought in September.
$40 million is a lot for a step-aside fee. Although it is not impossible that Joshua would get the money if he really means it, the odds are so low that it is more likely that he may end up facing Usyk instead. Maybe Joshua only mentioned $40 million because he knows it would be hard to get, meaning he would be allowed to face Usyk as it is a more reasonable option.
Reacting to the news, Fury has asked that Joshua make up his mind on what exactly he wants. For Fury, he is more interested in Joshua stepping aside so that he can “absolutely batter Oleksandr Usyk.” This may be because Fury does not believe that Joshua would win his rematch. In any case, The Gypsy King just wants Joshua to make a decision on what he wants to do; whether he wants the money or the fight. Fury is not in the least bothered about how it plays out, as he is sure he could defeat either Joshua or Usyk at the end of the day.
Fury might also prove a hindrance to a unification fight if the WBC mandates him to face Dillian Whyte. They were supposed to make a decision on that last month but refused to. We just have to see how that plays out.
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