Heavyweight earner Joshua hits 100-million-pound mark

The Daily Mirror reported on the weekend that IBF, IBO, WBA and WBO world heavyweight champion Anthony Joshua (25-1, 22 KOs) is the first British boxer worth over 100 million pounds ($140 million), surpassing the 90 million pounds earned by former champ Lennox Lewis, who retired in 2003.

According to the newspaper, Joshua's recently filed accounts show the Londoner has over 100 million pounds, most of which was earned in his two fights with Andy Ruiz Jr. in 2019-2020, which saw the 31-year-old Joshua lose and then regain the four titles.

Joshua is now poised to double his bank balance in 2021 as he's in negotiations to fight fellow Briton and WBC world champion Tyson Fury (31-0-1, 21 KOs) in a mega unification bout, possibly in the Middle East or Macao. Reports suggest the fighters could earn $100 million each.

Top Rank CEO Bob Arum, who co-promotes Fury, told IFL TV on the weekend there are no further issues with respect to finalizing what could end up being the richest fight in history.

The two sides have been in heavy talks to finalize a date in June, with July being the backup. There will be two fights as part of the agreement. The second bout will take place regardless of who wins the first.

"As far as I'm concerned, all the points have been agreed to. That's what each side has said. Now we're just scrambling around to get things signed. I can say clearly, based on my view of everything, there are no more issues," Arum said.

Last week, Joshua revealed his clash with Fury was likely going to land in June.

"June should be the date. Trust me. For the fans, for the people that have been calling it on for many, many months. Shout out to Fury and his team as well. Hungry go-getters, that's what we are," Joshua said.

Fury has been idle since February 2020, when he stopped Deontay Wilder in seven rounds to capture the WBC title at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas.

Joshua last fought in December, when he knocked out mandatory challenger Kubrat Pulev of Bulgaria in nine rounds.

Meanwhile, Joshua's promoter, Eddie Hearn, still believes a title challenge for Chinese contender Zhang Zhilei (22-0-1), another member of his Matchroom Boxing stable, is in the offing－but only after a rematch with American Jerry Forrest (26-4-1), who Zhang fought to a 10-round majority draw on Feb 27 in Miami, Florida.

Hearn said after the fight he believes the 6-foot-6(1.98-meter) Chinese southpaw, ranked No 8 by the WBO and No 15 by the IBF, needs to fight Forrest again to clarify which of the two could ultimately face Joshua－or Fury.

The 37-year-old Zhang looked comfortably on his way to victory early in the fight, dropping Forrest three times in the first three rounds, but he battled conditioning issues the rest of the way and was fortunate to get the draw.

"You've got to respect Jerry Forrest. He was gonzo early on," Hearn said in a post-fight interview with IFL. "Zhang looked really good for four rounds, counter-punching with great, great power, and then he was completely gassed because Forrest was working the body so well.

"But I thought Zhang would get the decision. The first three rounds were 10-8, then one point was deducted from Zhang in round nine. It was interesting. I'd like to do a rematch with Forrest, because if it had been a 12-round fight, Zhang was in big trouble.

"So I think that Zhang has got to do better and show more, but I know he can fight, and he was very impressive for four or five rounds."

Zhang, from Zhoukou, Henan province, won a silver medal at the 2008 Beijing Olympics and dropped a close split decision to Joshua at the 2012 London Games.