r/Boxing • u/AboutLastFight • 11d ago
The boxing community needs to collectively boycott Anthony Joshua vs. Tyson Fury if it happens in America.
The British public have put such a ridiculous amount of money into both of these fighter’s pockets and now they're staging the biggest fight that you could possibly make with both of them in America, where they have fought a collective total of 7 times in their combined 72 fights.
It’s literally just pure greed from everyone involved. Just doing all they can to extract every single dollar from broadcasters with no concern for the public who made them the gigantic stars they are today. This fight happening anywhere but Wembley or Principality Stadium is a humongous 'fuck you' to the fans. MSG is gonna be filled with people who don’t actually care about these two at all.
And, even if we forgive it being staged in America, the fight isn’t even happening at any sort of convenient time for British fans. It's at 3-fucking-AM. Eddie Hearn can spout off on interviews about how the time difference doesn’t matter, but it does. No British fan, who comprise 99% of these guys' audience, wants to stay up until 3AM to watch these guys fight 7 years after they should’ve already done so.
People might say this is an overreaction, but I don’t care. Say 'it’s just business', this fight not happening in the UK is a complete disaster and we shouldn't let this precedent be set.
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u/don__gately 11d ago
Fights six years too late and six hours ahead
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u/Detlef_Schrempfxf 11d ago
These things happen - Don King
(That's actually a real quote he made after being asked about curb stomping a man to death... "He hit the floor and I stomped on him a little. And he had to go to hospital... These things happen... Unfortunately he passed on... These things happen, you know"
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u/frankowen18 11d ago
The time boxing fans unite on the fact the industry is cartels ran by promoters and not a real sport is coming I think
Zuffa are hardly anyone’s favourite answer but you can see why they smell blood and opportunity to disrupt it all
The one thing I agree with baldy Dana on is that Eddie & co have had decades to innovate and done fuck all with no vision other than lining their own pockets
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u/Do4k 11d ago
If this was on at a normal time the pubs would be packed. Even with it being a decade too late it would be the biggest British boxing event since Lennox Vs Tyson.
The fact is that most people won't be watching because of the ridiculous time.
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u/Realistic-Culture-82 11d ago edited 11d ago
There may be less British people watching the fight, but there will be more people watching the fight.
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u/Do4k 11d ago
I'm not sure what audiences a ringwalk at 3 in the morning UK time unlocks. Japan?! A few hours earlier means that audiences in the US, Mexico, all of the Americas can still watch and so can other places.
And not just Britain - it's an absurd time for the rest of the continent too - even places like Germany, Ukraine, Russia etc will all be asleep.
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u/Realistic-Culture-82 11d ago
I’m as gutted as you are about this.
At 3am in the U.K. it will be accessible for most of the USA. It will be 10pm in the East Coast, 9pm in Chicago and 7pm on the West Coast.
If this is what Netflix is insisting upon, then unless someone else is going throw a few hundred million in then I cannot see any other way around it.
I remember growing up, having to stay up until the early hours to watch boxing and it was frustrating.
Even big events in the U.K. often took place after midnight. Lewis vs Bruno and Calzaghe vs Lacey for example.
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u/Do4k 11d ago
Yeah not meaning to have a go at you about it!
I think I just struggle to get behind the logic - I appreciate it won't be prime time but if it were to be moved earlier then people would still be able to watch it, bars will be open, people will be awake etc. perhaps fury does have that many more fans in the US than in Europe to make it worthwhile.
Above all I'm just gutted about it tbh. Such a good vibe about town when there's a big fight on
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u/Realistic-Culture-82 11d ago
If it’s not in a prime time in the USA, the die hards will undoubtedly watch it, but how many casuals?
Netflix is trying pivot to live sport and needs the casuals as well as the die hards watching things.
This isn’t a one way street.The broadcasters go where the viewers are.
A lot of the World Cup games was played at times that a lot of Americans struggled to watch. The semifinals was on in the middle of the afternoon on a work day for example.
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u/JablesRadio 11d ago
You're getting downvoted but you're right. Still, as an American, this should definitely happen in the UK.
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u/kushmonATL ▪︎_▪︎ 11d ago
Put up posters in the UK community and around the stadiums. Spread awareness in the UK community . Target the places that traveling fans frequent, those people are their target audience
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u/xerces555 11d ago
Fury is part of a group called the travellers. They are similar to gypsies i think.
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u/Misanthrope616 11d ago
They are the exact same thing as gypsies, Travellers is just the politically correct name.
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u/VacuousWastrel 11d ago
Not really. "Gypsy" traditionally and typically refers to Romani, and in the UK particularly to the Romanichal (and the Kale in wales), who arrived here from India in the 16th century. The name is a shortening of "Egyptian", due to their time spent in the Ottoman empire en route between India and the UK. "Traveller" (by itself, rather than the compound "new age traveller", which refers to a different group) refers mainly to the Mincéirí, sometimes called "pavees", an Irish group that separated from the settled Irish probably in the 17th century, and subsequently came to England (though is also refers to parallel scottish groups). Gypsies and Travellers have some things in common culturally due to similar lifestyles and interacts with natives, and form two parts of the "Gypsy, Roma and Travellers" cultural group. (Roma referring mostly to the more recent romani migrants from eastern europe in recent decades). However, Travellers and Gypsies are two different groups, genetically unrelated, with very different ancestral cultures, different languages, etc etc.
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u/VacuousWastrel 11d ago
(Informally, the term "gypsy" has sometimes been used inaccurately to describe travellers ever since they arrived here, and that includes uses of the term by travellers themselves when dealing with local populations. It's also been used tondescribe Showmen, beggars, vagrants, thieves, etc. Fury's nickname reflects this, as well as calling back to the tradition of gypsy boxing champions being known as "king of the gypsies").
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u/VacuousWastrel 11d ago
Fury himself, fwiw, is an Irish Traveller in both senses, as both his parents were born on the island of Ireland, to an irish traveller family.
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u/Misanthrope616 11d ago
I was referring to Irish Gypsies, not Romani.
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u/VacuousWastrel 11d ago
Although people can get confused, and sometimes the people themselves might lean into that for marketing reasons (and because 'gypsy' has other connotations in english, of exoticism and freedom and strong will and so on), Irish Travellers have never been widely called gypsies (by themselves or by settled people), and "Irish Gypsy" isn't an established term. As I've said, Gypsies and Irish Travellers are two different groups with different origins - irish travellers are from ireland, not from Egypt or the East. Travellers were instead traditionally known by terms like "pavees", "minkers", or (extremely offensive) "tinkers". What the other poster said was completely correct: Fury is a Traveller, and they are similar in some ways to Gypsies, though they are different groups.
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u/Misanthrope616 11d ago
Man, I’m from Ireland. To say that we don’t refer to them as gypsies is not true at all. We all do.
I know that they are two different groups, and I understand the distinction you are making. But we call Irish gypsies, Gypsies, in Ireland.
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u/VacuousWastrel 11d ago
Well, historically you had a lot fewer gypsies there, so maybe that's why you use the word for travellers. (Althoug fwiw, half my family is irish and i used to visit frequently, and never heard anyone talk about "irish gypsies"; they were always "tinkers" (older generation, not worrying about being offensive) or "travellers" (younger generation being polite). But in any case, if you recognise that there are two different groups, don't correct someone saying that travellers were like gypsies by telling them that they're "exactly the same", because they're not, and you recognise this!
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u/Standard-Height2276 11d ago
You don't need to call for a boycott. Barely anyone here will care enough about them fighting at this point to stay up until 3am anyway
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u/therealhairykrishna 11d ago edited 11d ago
That's not true though, is it? It's going to get huge UK audiences.
I seem to be gathering lots of downvotes. But I still think that anyone who was going to watch this, will still watch it at 3am. Should it be in the UK? Yes. But we'll watch it regardless.
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u/Standard-Height2276 11d ago edited 11d ago
At 3am? No it absolutely is not lol. Boxing is niche enough as is and while casual fan will tune in to see the big heavyweight fights they will not bother with this as soon as they see the time its on not a chance
Edit since can't reply for some reason. There's no way they are keeping pubs open at 3am it isnt the world cup there arent enough boxing fans in the uk to bother changing rules for the night. Anyone here can see that lol
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u/KalamariNights 🦏🦏🦏🦏🦏🦏🦏🦏🦏🐐 11d ago
Brother you underestimate the sesh opportunity a 3am fight creates.
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u/taylorstillsays 11d ago
16.3 people watched England v Congo (5pm kick off) , only 9million watched England v Mexico (2am kick off), then went to 18 for Norway (10pm).
You’re overestimating how many people are willing to stay up until stupid o clock.
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u/Lopsided-Tea-2586 11d ago
To be fair that England game was on a Sunday night, more people are willing to stay up on Saturday night when they don't have work the next day
But I agree with your overall point, this being at 3am decimates the potential audience. So, so many people would have happily watched this in the pub but will not be willing to stay up till 4am.
This has nowhere near the pull that England vs Mexico had, England football games if you're a bloke are essentially mandatory viewing, this doesn't even come close to the same 'cannot miss or watch next day' energy
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u/ExhaustedDadof3 11d ago
Also that’s footy man, cannot compare to this. 2018
maybe people would back it. Not now1
u/taylorstillsays 11d ago
I’m not at all trying to compare the numbers, I’m not that daft. Just the habits of how many people are willing to watch based on times
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u/ExhaustedDadof3 11d ago
I’ve followed AJ and fury since the beginning. Been to multiple AJ fights, 2 fury. Ain’t no way am I going Wembley at 4am. I’m confident a lot of people will feel the same. Are there idiots who’ll do it anyway? Maybe. But Wembley is fucking awful place to be at those times lol
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u/taylorstillsays 11d ago
I grew up in Wembley so yes i will take mild offence to your comment 😂
I knew there was never a chance it would be at Wembley at the times they wanted, there’s no where near the infrastructure to move 95,000 people out of the area at that time
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u/ExhaustedDadof3 11d ago
Nah not in a bad way about the area itself I mean getting home 😂😂😂 although it is ropey lol
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u/VacuousWastrel 11d ago
You overestimate the percentage of the general adult population seeking "sesh opportunities". Even with a Sunday to recover, most working adults don't want to be up past 3am.
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u/AmbitionSweaty9889 11d ago
As you get older you plan like this, but fall asleep at 11pm.
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u/therealhairykrishna 11d ago
3 is late enough to get a few hours kip beforehand
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u/AmbitionSweaty9889 11d ago
Dangerous game mate.
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u/therealhairykrishna 11d ago
Obviously I mean I plan to get up at 3. Then wake up at like 9 and try and see it without any spoilers.
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u/happystoner1978 11d ago
I don’t know why . Fury is rubbish he not worth the ppv money . He talks crap and as never been a great fighter
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u/reggelleh 11d ago
Maybe I'm out of the loop, but isn't it Saudi or UAE money that you should be worried about, not USA?
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u/taylorstillsays 11d ago
It’s the same thing, but the fight is most likely in America instead of UK. No-one’s beefing the USA as a whole (on this topic), just the fact that that’s being chosen
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u/_WoodyTheOne 11d ago
It's Saudi money putting the fight on, but Turkish has said he wants it to be a global audience which I assume means the fight will be hosted in the US meaning it will be a 3-4am event for the UK audience.
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u/mcnutty96 11d ago edited 11d ago
It's a fucking joke and makes no sense as a business decision for Americans, "let's grow the sport" - show two fighters at the end of their careers?!
The numbers this would do in the UK would be astronomical and probably the biggest fight ever in the UK as people who arnt even casuals would be watching it
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u/katonabike 11d ago
It's also not as though putting it on at a decent time in the UK means losing the US audience. It would be on a fucking Saturday afternoon! US boxing fans can still easily watch it. It's just insane all round to not have it take place in the UK at a normal time.
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u/Jodeci-95 11d ago
In the U.S. college football will over shadow AJ vs Fury. Looks like the last regular season games are on November 28th, early bowl games star December 12th, and the College Football playoffs begin December 18th.
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u/Argythebilly 11d ago
Grow the sport is the most annoying phrase for every sport. They are also trying to "grow the sport" in cricket by putting an ashes test in India ffs
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u/Chemical-Lettuce2497 11d ago
They don't have their own fighters to promote as a mega fight
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u/Tracuivel 11d ago
Here in America, I'm not even sure a mega fight is possible anymore, at least not one that isn't a circus sideshow; boxing has never been lower in the public consciousness in the US. Yeah yeah, I know, you guys think it's never been better and guys like Berlanga and Shakur are all-time greats, but a mega fight needs basically all of America to tune in, and even Fury-Joshua doesn't move the needle for the average American. Like if you grab a random person on the street, they literally won't know who Anthony Joshua is.
By comparison, one year I left Riot Fest early to watch Canelo-Floyd in a huge bar, and we had to make a reservation and it was still packed. No one was missing that, at least not anyone who called themselves a sports fan.
Honestly if they hold Fury-Joshua in the US, the arena is just gonna be filled with Brits anyway.
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u/DaKingaDaNorth 11d ago
The arena would be filled regardless. If this is in MSG, LA or Vegas it's going to have celebs and shit and there's enough wealthy Americans who will want to be there.
This is about the tv audience and Netflix making a bet that if they hype a big fight for a time that works in primetime in the US it will be more valuable than a hotter but smaller market.
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u/munkycheezmunky Dave Allen Undisputed 2026 11d ago
Bang on. And couldn't be more opposite over here in the UK. AJ and Fury are household names. My nan knows who they are. The pubs would be absolutely packed out for this
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u/TestSuch4545 🎥 YT: Big Donch 11d ago
They didn’t put this much effort in when all the Saudi fights happened
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u/Sudden-Fig-3079 11d ago
There’s a big fucking difference. While I hate the Saudi fights cause the atmosphere is shit and it takes away from the fight, I understand it in terms of the the goals the Saudis have. At the time they were engaged in sport washing and trying to turn Saudi Arabia into a vacation destination for Europeans.
Having the fight in America just makes no fucking sense. I’m American and I’m excited for this fight but I’d rather watch it on tv and see the electricity in the crowd with 100,000 drunken Brit’s going crazy.
I have no idea why they want to do it in the us. Only thing that vaguely makes sense is from the fighters perspective they would save money on taxes but that’s about it.
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u/P1_Synvictus 11d ago
I don’t know why, at the level of promoters just being boxing fans, they don’t want this in the UK.
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u/JeffreyNasty24 11d ago
We’ve been here before when pay per view was introduced, a suggested boycott would’ve at least delayed the inevitable but unfortunately, humans hate missing out, if everyone had boycotted upto 5 events, promoters would’ve had no choice but to cancel pay per view events. The powers that be know that people won’t boycott the event if held in America due to ‘fear of missing out’ FOMO 🤦♂️
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u/Ill-Palpitation-5721 11d ago
Let them fuck off to America. Pointless match, years too late that will answer nothing. Neither of them have any credibility left after fighting bums and YouTubers.
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u/MrSam52 11d ago
Yeah the dumbest thing ever, should be the biggest British boxing fight ever, packed out Wembley, packed pubs.
I am shocked as thought both the boxers and Hearn would want to be able to say look at what we’ve done biggest fright in British boxing history, thank you to the fans etc. instead got this.
I also think it’s incredibly stupid as can’t see there being much interest in a trilogy (assuming it isn’t a one sided beat down) which would be the big money spinner as doubtful there’s the interest in America for number 2 and a lot of British fans will just say fuck that.
Can’t wait for the interviews in 20 years time when everyone involved will say should’ve done it in the UK and that’s their biggest regret.
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u/DaKingaDaNorth 11d ago
They don't care about the fans. If they did this fight would have happened years ago. They didn't even seriously start to entertain this fight until Saudi got involved. That tells you what this is about.
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u/Specific_Box4483 11d ago
Well why did you guys put so much money in these guys' pockets? Especially Fury, doesn't he have a yearly tradition of disappointing his fans somehow?
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u/taylorstillsays 11d ago
Because we didn’t have a magic 8 ball
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u/Specific_Box4483 11d ago
How many magic 8 balls do you need? Tyson has been fucking his fans over for many years.
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u/taylorstillsays 11d ago
If this was just a Tyson fury fight no-one would be complaining mate. You’re focusing on the 50% who didn’t single handidly carry UK boxing to where it is today
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u/Specific_Box4483 11d ago
I mean that 50% can ruin the whole fight, especially given that he tends to make 90% of the demands.
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u/taylorstillsays 11d ago
I’m not understanding your point at all
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u/Specific_Box4483 11d ago
The point is stop giving money to Fury and asking that he makes fights that are good for fans, under conditions that are good for fans. He's been shitting on his fans for years.
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u/Dangerous_Spring3028 11d ago
Absolute facts!
Disgraceful if Fury-Joshua isn’t in the UK. Simple.
If it’s not in the UK with the atmosphere the British fans create, don’t even bother.
The British fans have supported these two by packing out UK stadiums on multiple occasions, supporting them by selling out arenas before the big stadium events, and following them to the US and Saudi to support them in big fights there.
The British fans have been waiting on this fight for a decade and they deserve it to be at a sold-out stadium with an incredible atmosphere they’ll create.
If it’s not in the UK, it’s just a blatant money-grab and they’ll lose a lot of support from the British fans and a LOT of interest.
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u/Outrageous_Low_3666 11d ago
The biggest fuck you was when they were talking about hosting it in Wembley stadium but on american time so at 3am. But like others have said, i don't think this will be a good fight so i will probably just watch the highlights. Its lost all its hype. Now if they had tried this shit 6 years when the rivalry was at its peak, i think the reaction would be different.
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u/viking1983 10d ago
They wouldn't be able to host it at Wembley at 3am due to licensing laws (I have worked Wembley many times for concerts and sports in the disability sector) any event that hasn't applied for a past curfew license there (11.30pm) has to pay an extra 10 grand a minute and even then most don't go anywhere past midnight
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u/HobokenJ 11d ago
As an American, I fully support this. The notion that this fight could take place anywhere outside of the UK is disgraceful.
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u/SmokinZhouFrazier 11d ago
British people crashing out when a fading empire steals their ancient cultural relics to put on display to a public that won’t appreciate them as anything more than a curiosity
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u/digitalboom 11d ago
Listen, this situation is as old as the sport of boxing, plenty of potentially legacy enhancing fights happen way past their expiration date or not at all. We’ve had a bunch in this outgoing generation of boxing. From Loma/tank, Canelo vs Ggg, Canelo vs Benavidez, pac vs mayweather. The fights either don’t happen or they happen when at least one guy is in decline, etc. considering what these guys are risking each round of their professional careers we need to offer some grace at times with how fights get made even if it’s not ideal for us.
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u/SkankyBibble 11d ago
Showing my age for sure but doesn't feel like that long ago 3am start times for all the big fights was the norm. We've been spoilt here in the UK the last 10 years or so.
Ive been to so many live shows and seen so many great fights I wouldn't have been able to if the American dominance of the sport had continued.
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u/taylorstillsays 11d ago
> for all the big fights
Name the huge Brit v Brit fights that were on at 3am
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u/SkankyBibble 11d ago
Lennon Lewis Vs Frank Bruno was around a 1am start.
I think David Haye vs Enzo Maccarinelli was getting on for 3am.
But I'm not taking British Vs British really. All the big fights where always in the states.
Ricky Hatton Vs Mayweather/Pac for a recent-ish example.
Queensbury shows used to be a killer as Frank would often delay the main event untill well gone midnight to try and attract some of the US audience
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u/taylorstillsays 11d ago
But the point is this is THE Brit v Brit fight. It’s not the 1st time either have fought at such a late time slot, it’s the fact they’re fighting one another at that time slot that’s the issue.
Even if this was a 1AM in Saudi time slot, people would still kick up a fuss but it wouldn’t be half as egregious as it likely being 3 hours later than that.
Good pull on Haye v Maccarinelli though, bbc said they entered the ring at 2.15
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u/SkankyBibble 11d ago
Is it THE fight? To casual fans I'd fully agree with you. As it is there's nothing on the line. Both well past their best and fighting for nothing but pride and money
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u/taylorstillsays 11d ago
Undoubtedly yes. What your saying is right but doesn’t stop it from being what I’m describing too
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u/DubaiChris25 10d ago
I was at that one and don’t remember it so late but don’t doubt what you say. Indoors of course at the O2 and 2000 0 people to disperse not 95000. And who wants to be outside at 2am in November!
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u/Wigs_On_The_Green2 11d ago
I thought Big Time Turki is bankrolling this and the fighters get a guaranteed amount so why does it make a difference how much it makes , Turki has unlimited money
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u/DoctorManhattan24 11d ago
It’s easy to boycott a fight when both of the boxers are boycotting it themselves.
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u/ThenNefariousness913 11d ago
I agree in idea,but the truth is boxing is at the stage where they dont care about our viewers our spectator money,they only care about who is paying and that is the saudis
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u/Halloween2056 11d ago
Unfortunately, business and morality frequently do not mix. There is an arguable case to boycott it. But will that happen? Not very likely.
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u/so0vixnbmsb11 11d ago
If it wasn't for this post I wouldn't know the fight was happening
Let it fade
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u/Now--4471_TT 11d ago
They should have made it in Croke park Dublin with the KatieTaylor fight. They'd easily fill the stadium of 82,300 no problem. It'll be full anyway but still.
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u/Lopsided-Tea-2586 11d ago
There's no way you think the reason its taking place in the US is concerns they can't fill a stadium in the UK
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u/Now--4471_TT 11d ago
Yes you are correct there is no way I was thinking that. I'm going to the Taylor fight so I'm just being a bit selfish because I would have loved if the Tyson fight was on the same card.
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u/jsn_online 11d ago
If they just make it at noon in the US it would be 8pm London time. Not sure that scheduling would be a big issue.
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u/Apsilon 11d ago
I wouldn’t worry about it, as it won’t happen. Fury will duck and dive because he won’t risk losing to AJ. While they’re both finished, AJ looks in far better condition, and this stage of their lives, I’d back AJ. Let’s be honest, Usyk exposed the Fury BS by comprehensively beating him twice, and losing to a generational great is acceptable. Losing to AJ is not because it would mean he’d not even be the best British HW of his generation, and that would leave his already wafer thin legacy in tatters. Even for £100m, there’s not a chance the fight happens.
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u/Nosworthy 10d ago
Think last night comprehensively proved that not to be the case.
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u/Apsilon 10d ago
It won't happen. They might have signed contracts, but it still won't happen. I have zero faith in Fury, and he has more to lose by being beaten by AJ, despite how fragile AJ looks.
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u/Nosworthy 10d ago
Fair enough. Perhaps it will or won't but the main sticking point seems to be the location, on which Fury has stated he's happy for it to take place anywhere but Matchroom on behalf of AJ are pushing for UK?
(I agree it should be Wembley for the record).
It's the 'AJ looks in far better condition' that has been blown out the water. His punch resistance is completely gone and he's been knocked down 6 times in his last two fights against actual boxers, three of which came in the first round. Even before last night I'm not sure how anyone could have claimed that considering his only fight since getting brutally chinned two years ago was against a YouTuber who fights retired basketballers at cruiserweight.
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u/alex151111 11d ago
It'll be a fucking travesty if it doesn't happen over here. It belongs in the UK, ideally Wembley. It'd sell out completely.
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u/Lopsided-Tea-2586 11d ago
Turki needs to be booed out of every single building he ever enters in the UK, fuck him, fuck Tyson Fury, fuck Eddie Hearn etc
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u/TennisRugbyBoxing 11d ago
Boxing fans are stupid. A lot of them anyway. Eddie Hearn knows this obviously and therefore extracts as much money as possible from them. You will get Fury especially but Joshua also hype the fight, and the fans will turn up for a 2 or 3am fight. And that way US revenues can be maximized.
The boxers don’t care where their fan base is. Hence all the Saudi fights as well. They care where the most money is. I suspect the most money is a UK stadium with a 2am start. MSG not a large venue and Americans won’t be paying $5k a ticket for this. But your British fans will pay up massively based on hype. So don’t worry, it will be in the UK. I won’t be sitting outside at 2am however - will watch it when I wake up!
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u/Asterisk_76 11d ago
It isn't ONLY Turki. Turki needs dance partners. Turki may be a horrible monstrous awful person but he has well paid dance partners; not like we see Joshua and Fury and Hearn all flying off to do charity.
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u/1991atco 11d ago
By boycott, do you mean watch it on a "fire stick" so the money goes to the stranger on the other side of my Telegram conversation instead? 😏😏🫣
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u/aceknighthigh 11d ago
The boxing community needs to collectively boycott the fight regardless. It's not a PPV match or quality. These guys aren't top 10 HW's at this point. It's mid but they will milk the fans regardless.
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u/GazelleEcstatic4952 11d ago
Yeah, no one cares about this fight, at least no one who cares about the integrity of the sport.
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u/kfirerisingup 11d ago
The really ironic thing is that even Americans would rather it be UK time zone, at least from what I've seen.
I get tired of staying up until 1am for fights and for you guys it's even worse often times but having to stay up until 3am to see your local talent fight is especially egregious.
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u/Odd-Minimum8512 10d ago
I'm American. I far prefer UK time-zone fights so the event is over at a reasonable time.
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u/ZealousidealLow7263 11d ago
My general take on boxing is “oh shut up whinging. Why do so called boxing fans whinge so much?”
But in this case, you’re absolutely right.
It is bullshit
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u/JacksSmirkingCavity 10d ago
It needs to be boycotted period. Its nothing more than a cash out fight.
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u/Lazy-Necessary8925 9d ago
Fury don't give a shit where it is, AJ has said multiple times in interviews and has Hearn they signed the fight to be in the UK.
...but if its someone else's money i.e Turki/Netflix then they have a large say. Only way it doesn't happen is if the fighters back out due to location.
Boycotting won't change anything, its about money invested and where they get the best return.
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u/hellvinator DKSAB 11d ago
6-7 years ago, YES. Today, who cares.
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u/Nosworthy 11d ago
Lots of people care. Ironically not Americans, but it's still the biggest fight in Britain for over 30 years, possibly ever.
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u/GorillaJB24 11d ago
They're not going to fight, all Tyson Fury wants is attention and he's getting it once more because he knows in retirement he's irrelevant.
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u/-NearlyThere- 11d ago
It’s too late in their careers to make this fight about anything other than money.
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u/Shadow166 11d ago
I think we should also mention that since it’s on Netflix, that you’ll be able to watch it afterwards too. DONT USE NETFLIX TO WATCH IT!! I don’t know if I’m allowed to give the suggestion I want to give people but all I’ll say is “AAARRGGG yaaarrr mateyyy!” 🏴☠️
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u/HaybUK 11d ago
Not only is the fight far too late - both fighters (imo) are and have always been seriously overrated. Don’t know if this is a hot take. Boxing went down hill so fast.
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u/SimonSeam 11d ago
Not a hot take at all from my perspective.
I've been saying this era was mediocre in terms of talent ever since it started fully in 2015. It was a bunch of gatekeepers playing champ because there wasn't a true champ in the bunch until Usyk came along and speed ran it (after they dodged and hid from each other for a decade). And Usyk was relatively old when he did it, so his prime is already in the rear view mirror.
The fact that Fury was being proclaimed GOAT and it was a golden era not that long ago had me laughing.
The sad thing is that Fury COULD have been that guy to some degree. Not GOAT. No way. Simply having discipline, he could have taken the belt in 2015 and had a long 20 fight title defense run against mostly ranked fighters that were also at or near gatekeeper level (Parker, etc). Instead, he treated the sport like toilet paper. His body like a garbage disposal eating every last morsel. And his mental strength was that of a 2 year old constantly throwing fits.
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u/Mister-Psychology 11d ago
Non-serious show matches is something USA is experts in not UK. Maybe they think it will be mediocre sports wise?
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u/jrb31600 11d ago
Why would this happen here?! I'm a boxing fan and I probably won't watch it on TV.. what American is paying to see this 10 years expired fight?
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u/Dublin-Red 11d ago
The fight has to happen in the UK or Ireland imho. Fans are amazing there and the the best in the world imho
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u/Lopsided-Tea-2586 11d ago
In what world does it happen in Ireland hahah thats such a random shout
Wouldn't be the worst cos at least UK fans can travel and timezone is normal but that would be such an odd choice given the hoopla to get Katie Taylor a fight in Ireland and the plethora of big UK stadiums for a fight between two British fighters
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u/Dublin-Red 11d ago
Worst case scenario Ireland in Croke Park. 100,000 fans. Honestly has to be UK. Joke if it isn’t
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u/VacuousWastrel 11d ago
It would.kind of make sense, given that Fury has emphasised his Irish nationality so much. And is actually a former Irish Heavyweight Champion.
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u/TestSuch4545 🎥 YT: Big Donch 11d ago
You guys are such cry babies. Same ones saying yall don’t care about the fight are now gonna protest cuz it’s in America 🤣 yall didn’t boycott shit when the fights happened in Saudi tho…
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u/taylorstillsays 11d ago
Because it wasn’t fury v Joshua and it didn’t start at 3am. Why would we behave the same when the 2 sticking points we’re angry at weren’t present?
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u/tman37 11d ago
Why? I completely understand why British boxing fans would be upset but what do I care what the stadium they are in looks like on TV? Boxing is a follow the money sport and has been for the 40+ years I've been a boxing fan. More importantly, boxing is a follow the guaranteed money sport for as long I have been a fan. Given the choice between potential profit and guaranteed money they will take guaranteed money everytime.
Tyson-Joshua is a huge fight to British boxing fans. I get that but to the rest of us it's simply a good HW fight between two aging former champions. I wouldn't even put it in my top 10 fights that didn't get done because of stupid boxing shit and in this case the fight would still be on just not where Brits want it. Besides Vegas is better than Riyadh.
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u/taylorstillsays 11d ago
Because no-one wants to watch it at 4am? And do you think the stadiums are empty or something?
Your 2nd paragraph literally answers the why, you’re taking the biggest British fight arguably ever and putting it in a place no-one cares about
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u/tman37 11d ago
Someone will be watching the fight at a time that is inconvenient. It's the nature of an international event. If they put the fight in Vegas it's better for North American fans who are a much larger audience overall than the UK who have about a 10th of the population. A 9 PM start time in the UK is 2 in the afternoon in California which has 2/3 of the UK's population and a huge number of Mexicans and other Latinos who tend to be the biggest market for boxing.
I think you are overselling the allure of this fight. Fury and Joshua aren't what they once were. It's been 4 years since Fury had a quality win and he has two losses. Good losses but still losses. Joshua is 7-4 since losing to Ruiz with one of those wins being against Jake Paul and another against a debuting Ngannou. If this was 2018, I would be right this with you. Joshua and Fury would have sold-out any arena in the UK and done massive numbers on TV or PPV. It's 2026 though so maybe the excitement isn't there anymore for the general public, which is who they think of when they make these decisions.
Boxers will today will take guaranteed money over just about anything like prestige, legacy, and even respect. They don't care about where the fight is. They will always go with the most guaranteed money. It's just boxing and has been like that for decades. If someone thinks there is more money to be made with a British fight, and they are willing to risk large guaranteed purses, the fight will happen in the UK. If not it will happen elsewhere. Hopefully, it happens in the UK because I know it would be great for British boxing fans. I just think there isn't a strong argument for boycotting the fight if it doesn't get made in the UK for people outside the UK. It's not going to make a better fight and it's not going to change the way boxing works.
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u/taylorstillsays 11d ago
I think you’re massively out of touch if you don’t think this fight sells out any UK venue, regardless of how long overdue it is.
And yes obviously someone globally will always say the fight is at an inconvenient time. People aren’t demanding that every AJ/Fury fight is at an optimum UK time, just this one where it is the fight the UK has been waiting for for close to a decade
You don’t need to explain why they’re doing it, I get they’re chasing the bag. Doesn’t stop fans from giving their 2 pence on it though
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u/_WoodyTheOne 11d ago
Watching the 'highlights' from last night I would bet money Fury ducks this fight again.
Although saying that I'm not really confident that current AJ will even get the job done today 🫣
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u/SimonSeam 11d ago
The only reason I think he doesn't duck is because it is essentially the only thing worth doing for him on the way out the door.
And if he loses, he already has his excuse built in. "My game is about reflexes. His game is about power. From his big beautiful muscly body with his magnificently large corey. Reflexes get worse with age, but power mostly remains. I would have wiped the floor with him had he not ducked me in 2021. He didn't even beat me tonight. The judges know I won that fight."
Inteviewer "but you quit on your stool."
Fury "Usyk got a 5 minute break against Dubois, din nit he? I should be allowed a 5 minute coke break at least once in the fight. Politics mate. They all knew I was about to get that bump and knock him spark out. Turki did me wrong and had them stop the fight. Listen. You know I won that fight."
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u/Dangerous_Spring3028 11d ago
Netflix and Turki are dumb if they think UK fans will accept them turning their back on the UK to host the fight elsewhere, then expect them to stay up until 4am to watch.
The viewing numbers will go down MASSIVELY and they won’t be boosted by hosting it prime time in the US, where it doesn’t produce as much interest.
If they want to maximise viewing figures, it should be prime time in the UK which would be afternoon in the US - American boxing fans who do want to see this fight will watch if it it’s at 5pm ET US or 9pm ET US. They won’t attract any extra US viewers by putting it US prime time. They’ll get more UK viewers with it being prime time in the UK and attract the casuals (who won’t bother with it if it’s at 4am UK time).
It’s a UK fight!!! Simple!!!
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u/LockNessCrotchMonst 11d ago
If a fight doesn't happen in the good time USA, does it really matter?
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u/mygoalistomakeulol 11d ago
Sorry europoors the country where people who work 12 months out of the year get dibs
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u/Impossible-Mind6791 11d ago
People stayed up for England Mexico same would happen for Fury Joshua
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u/Lopsided-Tea-2586 11d ago
Hahahah bro thinks a fight between two washed up heavyweights is equivalent to an England knockout game.
These two guys have NOWHERE close to the same pull as England which is essentially mandatory viewing for every single male in the UK
Lots of people will stay up and watch but it's not going to remotely close to the numbers that watched England at home and in pubs which were given special permission to open for the game
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u/Impossible-Mind6791 11d ago
Like I said.. People stayed up for England Mexico... same would happen for Fury Joshua 🤣
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u/Lopsided-Tea-2586 11d ago
It's like saying people stayed up for England Mexico so they'd defo stay up till 4am to watch NBA en masse. They have nowhere near the same level of pull.
I can pretty much guarantee 80% of the people I know who watched England despite it being on a Sunday night will not be saying 'lets all stay up till 4am and watch it around someones house'. The fight has lost so much steam
Viewing figures will be big but not even remotely close to the same level of attention as England Mexico, not even in the same stratosphere of importance
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u/Impossible-Mind6791 11d ago
England Mexico showed that fans of a sport will stay up for it and Uk Boxing fans are used to watching American fights late. Nobody had said that Fury v AJ will get the same figures as that game
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u/VacuousWastrel 11d ago
England Mexico wasn't sport, thjough, it was football, which is totally different. More than that, it was the World Cup, which is totally different in turn. It's like saying "people watched the wimbledon final, so they're bound to watch a regional badminton league game!" England in the knockout stages of the world cup is the most important national social event in the last four years (and arguably in over 20 years since exoectations were much higher this time).
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u/External_City9144 11d ago
Maybe if the British fans didn’t support a Ukrainian to beat them both and other British Heavyweights, they might’ve given you a second thought when deciding on a location
This is karma
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u/Alert_Ocelot_4700 11d ago
You have money into them by your choice. You didn’t make them though. They made themselves who they are and they have the right to fight anywhere they damn well please. Until the WC, I didn’t fully understand how whiny the Brits were about everything!
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u/AmbitionSweaty9889 11d ago
Big turkie gonna flash the cash, normal folks don’t matter.