Tyson Fury’s Mammoth Purse Demands And The Saudi Factor In A Potential Bout With Long-Time Rival Anthony Joshua

Tyson Fury hinted to his fans yesterday that he’s going to be coming out of retirement for a big fight. The timing of ‘The Gyspy King’ suggests that he wants to keep in the limelight after the announcement this week of the Oleksandr Usyk vs. Daniel Dubois 2 rematch, and last Saturday’s family feud clash between Chris Eubank Jr. and Conor Benn.

Fury (34-2-1, 24 KOs) knows he’s got to emerge out of his den now or he’ll be forgotten entirely, and he won’t be able to command the kind of dough that he’s hoping to get for a fight against whoever. Anthony Joshua is the likely guy that Fury will fight if he does unretire, and that’s

“You know what time it is,” said Tyson Fury yesterday on social media, letting fans know he’s planning on coming out of retirement. Fury had a smug look on his face while saying it.

Saudi Millions?

With the kind of money that the fabulously wealthy and spoiled Fury will want for his comeback against Joshua, it would require the Saudis to be willing to finance it. Tyson’s not going to take a giant pay cut to fight Joshua. Fury reportedly got a purse of around $100 million for the rematch with Usyk last December. Without the Saudis’ involvement, Fury won’t get nearly as much.

“He wants to make himself relevant,” said Simon Jordan to Talksport Boxing about Tyson Fury coming out of the woodwork after this week’s announcement of the Oleksandr Usyk vs. Daniel Dubois 2 rematch and after last weekend’s battle between Chris Eubank Jr. and Conor Benn.

“Usyk doesn’t have the same charisma that Fury has. Has Fury lost some of the reputation that he had because he’s lost two fights? A lot of people would like to see the Fury vs. Joshua fight. It’s the battle of the losers.”

There are many British fans who still want to see the Fury-Joshua fight. With promoter Eddie Hearn’s involvement and the extensive promotion that Fury will give the fight, it is likely to attract a lot of interest worldwide from fans. Naturally, people would view AJ and Tyson as a pair of over-the-hill former heavyweight champions, no longer relevant. Fans would still want to see it for entertainment.

“I don’t know how they’re going to get in the ring unless the Saudis put up a check, because if you want to do this in the same way they’ve done Dubois vs. Usyk, I can’t see this as anything more than a 50-60 million pound fight,” said Simon.

Getting Fury back in the ring for $50 million for a fight against Joshua might be difficult because he might not want to accept that kind of dough for a fight that would likely be a lot bigger than his rematch with Usyk was last December.

He did all the promoting for that fight. Having Joshua involved would mean that Hearn would help market the fight to make it a big affair. Still, Fury might balk of he’s not getting at least the kind of loot that he did last time he fought. The thing is, he doesn’t fight at the level of a fighter, even making $1 million.

His ability now is so poor, and he’s not entertaining to watch. Fury is only useful for the promotion of his fights, and it’s pretty much always been that way. It’s just that now, his fighting ability has dropped off to where he’s completely awful to watch.

Questioning Fury’s Worth

“I don’t think either of those boys, maybe Joshua, but I don’t think Fury is going to get in the ring for 25 million quid. If you were paid 75 million quid for your last fight [against Usyk], you’re not stepping back in the ring for 25 million quid,” said Simon.

“If the Saudis aren’t going to put up big, fat facility fees and the industry is going to settle back to where it once was before, and you’re seeing that change. You’re seeing the Saudis go, ‘We want economic value out of these fights. If they step out, how do you make this fight have the scale of these two avaricious swines [Joshua and Fury] want out of it?” said Simon.