A graphic of Anthony Joshua and Tyson Fury fighting in Madison Square Garden.

Eddie Hearn has suggested Anthony Joshua rejected a more lucrative offer to ensure his fight with Tyson Fury is on British shores.

An ongoing saga has erupted for several weeks over the destination of his signed clash with British heavyweight rival Fury.

A graphic of Anthony Joshua vs Tyson Fury
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Joshua and Fury's bout finally looks set to go ahead, but not in the US as originally plannedCredit: Getty

It appeared the all-British clash was heading stateside to New York's Madison Square Garden, with organisers keen to stage the fight in front of a US audience.

But Joshua stood firm on his contract terms that had the fight registered to take place in the UK.

And now it appears the fight is being finalised to land at Cardiff's Principality Stadium in December, albeit at a 2am start time.

Joshua rejects offer to fight in USA

Joshua's promoter Hearn has been strong on his public stance that AJ wants the bout on home territory.

And he has now claimed that the Watford KO artist was so intent on a British venue that he turned down far more money.

"Anthony Joshua could have taken many millions more to do the fight in America," Hearn told iFL TV.

"We want the fight in Britain. The support that we've had on social media has made us double down on our principles on this. We're not trying to hurt the fight.

“We’ve never done anything else and what he can’t get his head around is that Anthony Joshua won’t take a little bit more money to do the fight in America, because he cares.

"He cares where the fight is. He cares about British boxing, and he cares about the contract that he signed.

"And Dana White thinks you can throw a little bit of money at someone and they’ll dance to your f*cking tune. Well, guess what? Not on AJ’s watch.

Eddie Hearn, Chairman of Matchroom Sport, and Anthony Joshua talk ahead of his Heavyweight fight against Kristian Prenga
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Hearn explained that Joshua rejected a more lucrative payday to ensure British fans get the favourable outcomeCredit: Getty

"That is why, unfortunately for these people, the fight will not be taking place in America, because Anthony Joshua is not a sellout."

Hearn blames Dana White for Joshua vs Fury debacle

Throughout the negotiations to get a fight announcement over the line, Zuffa Boxing's White has persistently suggested he will promote the clash.

Hearn has resisted White's suggestions, and insisted the American will have no involvement, despite even Fury's ploy to get him on board.

And he has suggested that the fact the fight was even considered to be brought to America, was driven by White.

The Matchroom Boxing kingpin continued: “Dana White says we are the only one upsetting this fight.

"Dana White has tried to get involved in a fight that he has nothing to do with and to get Sela to break their contract, scrap a British fight, and bring it to America.

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"He thinks that he’s not causing a problem in this fight? All we have ever done is said, ‘We’ve signed our contract. Just keep the contract that we’ve signed.’"

For now it appears the guns are down and a mutual effort is being made for the bout to land in Wales.

Multiple dates in December are being considered with December 4 and December 11 both in play.

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