Well this is new: Antony Joshua is offered 20 million USD to - not fight?
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Reading Time: 2min | Tue. 25.01.22. | 12:00
That might be the scenario if the Briton gives up on the rematch with the Ukrainian who defeated him at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium
Usually in the world of boxing, negotiations are held, bidding on the sums that two fighters will receive for a fight, but this is definitely something new: a boxer could get a lucrative compensation for not fighting!
Former world champion and the great hope of world boxing Anthony Joshua received just such an offer. The 32-year-old Nigerian-rooted boxer could earn as much as 20 million USD just to give up on the already signed rematch against the Ukrainian Oleksandr Usyk.
When the two boxers arranged their first match (which ended in Ukrainian winning at the new White Hart Lane on the 25th of September 2021), one of the clauses was that - no matter how the first duel ends - there will be a rematch.
However, there might be a change of plans. The management agency of Tyson Fury, the holder of all the other heavyweight championship belts, wants to arrange a match with Usyk, to unify all the belts. Whoever wins - takes all.
But, according to the above-mentioned contract, Usyk must first have his rematch against Joshua. And because of that, the pressure is building up on the Briton to give up that match and if he agrees he will earn 20 million USD as compensation. As a result, Fury and Usyk will be seeing each other in the ring.
The overall impression is that the world of boxing would rather watch that match than watch Joshua in the ring again. Much more was expected of him when he took off the crown of Wladimir Klitschko - the Briton soon after lost surprisingly from Andy Ruiz Jr and even though he regained his titles against the Mexican-American fighter, Joshua again disappointed when Usyk completely outfought him on home ground.
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