With the clock ticking and the undisputed world heavyweight title fight between rival champions Tyson Fury and Anthony Joshua still seeking a date and location, a new, surprising bid has entered the mix, according to promoter Eddie Hearn.
With talks dragging on, Saudi Arabia or America might seem the most likely locales through either a huge site-fee or the possibility of a live gate in a large stadium during these Covid-19 restricted times. But promoter Hearn has revealed he has received a leftfield, yet credible, financial offer from South East Asia.
“I had an approach [on Wednesday], not from the Middle East, but it was the most bizarre approach. I can’t say who it was but it was from a very wealthy individual and he wants to do something very special. We’ve had 20 approaches for this fight but you know which ones are serious,” said Hearn.
“But this one was just well out there. And it’s a realistic option, money is not an issue with this guy. Commercially, it’s a bit strange, but it’s not about that. It’s a trophy asset to say, ‘This is the biggest event in the world’. And that’s the mindset of an individual who wants to bring it to his own country. It’s not about selling tickets, it’s not about government investment. It would him be saying ‘I’d be paying for it’.
“There’s a number for the fight, you hit the number, you get the fight and the number was not an issue for this individual. Saudi have paid the site fee before, we’ve worked together before, it’s not complicated, it’s just about tying up the dates, but this offer is a bit different. All I will say is it’s in Asia. Not Macao but not far away.
“I see some of the comments saying the sites might prefer the fight in November or December. Of course. But that is not what is on the table, that’s not what we are pitching. If the question comes back ‘Can we do it later in the year?’ The answer is no. That’s the date.
“Otherwise, the WBO belt becomes an issue again [Oleksandr Usyk and Joe Joyce have been ordered to fight for the interim WBO title whilst Fury and Joshua hopefully settle their business], something else happens. Fury might turn around and say he needs another fight. The absolute focus is June or July.”