'Death of two top aides' strikes another blow to heavyweight champion, 'a staggering 170 billion won' clash likely to fall through... What exactly happened?

*This content was translated by AI.

Once hailed as the biggest box-office draw in boxing history, a century-defining showdown with astronomical fight money at stake is on the verge of collapsing due to contract and venue disputes.

On the 22nd (Korea time), U.S. sports outlet ESPN reported: "Tyson Fury and Olympic gold medalist Anthony Joshua's long-awaited heavyweight blockbuster appears unlikely to materialize, and the fight may not take place," strongly raising doubts about its feasibility.

The 'Battle of Britain' between two British heavyweight superstars, eagerly awaited by the boxing world and global fans for over a decade, gained momentum recently, with an November holding now considered highly probable. According to local reports, the fight's purse could reach as much as 100 million pounds (approximately 177 billion won).

Amid strong prospects for the matchup, Fury announced his readiness by defeating Marius Bălan. Joshua also overcame a life-threatening crisis last month against Christian Frazer, suffering two knockdowns in the first round after taking a punch to the chin just 20 seconds into the bout, before completing a dramatic comeback KO victory with a single right straight in the second round, signaling green lights for the November showdown.

Notably, last December, Joshua pocketed 68 million pounds (approximately 120 billion won) in a match against YouTuber boxer Jake Paul, only to suffer a tragedy when he simultaneously lost his decade-long personal trainer Latif Ayodele and rehabilitation coach Shina Gami in a traffic accident. After returning to the ring and securing a victory, Joshua climbed the ropes immediately following his win to declare a showdown with Fury, pushing expectations to their peak.

However, conflicts over contract terms with the organizers and venue selection have become major obstacles. Both Fury and Joshua signed separate contracts with Cella, a promotion owned by Saudi Arabia's sovereign wealth fund, but they hold serious disagreements regarding the host location. While the organizers and broadcasters strongly favor holding the event at Madison Square Garden in New York to maximize global appeal, Joshua's promoter Eddie Hearn insists on a clause requiring the fight to take place in the UK.

According to ESPN, Hearn submitted an addendum to Cella demanding additional payments from Joshua, citing tax issues arising from hosting the fight in the U.S., revenue sharing from broadcasting rights, and travel and media schedules. Hearn stated: "We want Joshua to fight in the UK as per our already agreed contract. If he goes to the U.S., our conditions must be met." He added, "We have done nothing wrong; we are simply being asked to change a signed agreement." Complicating matters further, Dana White, UFC president who has allied with Cella and TKO Group, became involved, escalating tensions between promoters to their peak.

In response, an enraged Fury took to his personal social networking service (SNS), stating: "They don't seem willing to sign the contract. It looks like the fight won't happen after all." He further criticized: "This is all because Hearn and Joshua's side are demanding more money."

Fury added: "The venue changed from the UK, then Ireland, then the U.S., but I was willing to fight anywhere. I am fully ready to fight. The location doesn't matter." He concluded with a stern warning: "If Joshua doesn't want to fight, I'll take on another opponent. If White wants to participate, he can come over as an advisor or join my team."

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*This content was translated by AI.