Biggest domestic fights over the years AJ vs Tyson Fury edges closer

From Carl Froch vs George Groves to David Haye vs Tony Bellew… the biggest domestic fights over the years as Frank Warren claims Battle of Britain clash between Anthony Joshua and Tyson Fury could make £200m in pay-per-view sales

  • Anthony Joshua and Tyson Fury could be set for a Battle of Britain clash this year
  • Joshua has accepted Fury’s offer but he said the fight must be on December 17
  • However, Fury has hit back, insisting the fight can only take place on two dates
  • Should the fight go ahead it is likely it will be fought at the Principality Stadium
  • Therefore, UK fans will be gifted another domestic heavyweight showdown
  • Sportsmail have looked back at the five biggest domestic fights to date so far 

Anthony Joshua and Tyson Fury could go head-to-head in a Battle of Britain clash later this year after Frank Warren sent written terms to Eddie Hearn over a potential bout on Wednesday morning. 

Joshua has accepted Fury’s terms but the two British heavyweights are currently negotiating the date of the fight. The Gypsy King has issued Joshua with a ‘take it or leave it’ ultimatum saying he must accept November 26 or December 3rd. 

However, AJ – who suffered his second-successive points defeat to Ukrainian boxer Oleksandr Usyk last month in Saudi Arabia – would like to face Fury on December 17 instead. 

Should the British heavyweights agree on a date, boxing fans across the UK could be in for another domestic treat. Warren has named the Principality Stadium as the potential location for the world title fight.

Warren has also predicted a Fury vs Joshua fight will muster up £200million’s worth of pay-per-view sales, making it a record-breaking fight.  

Therefore, Sportsmail have looked at the biggest domestic fights over the years. From Carl Froch vs George Groves to Anthony Joshua vs Dillian Whyte, here are the top five bouts. 

Anthony Joshua and Tyson Fury (right) could be set for a Battle of Britain clash this year if AJ agrees to one of the two dates proposed by the Gypsy King  

Eddie Hearn (left) has received written terms from Frank Warren over a Battle of Britain clash and AJ has accepted terms on the condition the fight takes place on December 17

Location: London, Wembley Stadium

Attendance: 80,000

Pay-per-view sales: 900,000

Carl Froch defended his IBF and WBA super-middleweight titles against George Groves in what was one of Britain’s biggest ever fights at Wembley in 2014. 

The blockbuster rematch came six months after Froch won their first bout in Manchester with a controversial ninth-round stoppage by referee Howard Foster. 

The Brits locked horns in front of a sell-out crowd of 80,000. There were an additional 900,000 viewers who bought access to the fight from pay-per-view. 

The fight got off to a slow start but the fans were left mesmerised by Froch’s devastating right-hand as he knocked Groves out to emerge victorious. 

Carl Froch defended his IBF and WBA super-middleweight titles against George Groves

The two British fighters locked horns in front of a sell-out Wembley crowd of 80,000 

Frank Bruno vs Lennox Lewis 

Location: Cardiff, Arms Park

Attendance:  25,784

Pay-per-view sales: 1.95m

After Mike Tyson stopped Frank Bruno in Las Vegas in 1989, the London fighter earned himself a third world title fight four years later, this time against WBC champion Lennox Lewis.

It was the first time two British-born heavyweights had fought for a world belt in history. But the build-up to the fight was dominated by a debate over Lewis’ nationality.

The London-born fighter had won gold for Canada at the 1988 Olympics in Seoul. And Bruno accused his opponent of being ‘not British’, claiming: ‘Nobody cares about Lennox Lewis in Britain.’

Lewis responded by mocking Bruno’s appearance in pantomime, before stopping the 31-year-old in the seventh rounds.

In front of 25,784 at Cardiff Arms Park, Bruno took the fight to Lewis and was well ahead on one of the judges’ cards when Lewis’ power proved too much for him.

Lewis’ knockout punch was also witnessed by an additional 1.95m viewers who paid to watch the fight via pay-per-view.  

Frank Bruno took on WBC champion Lennox Lewis in a blockbuster bout in October 1993 

David Haye vs Tony Bellew

Location: London, O2 Arena 

Pay-per-view sales: 1.59m 

Tony Bellew emerged victorious from one of the biggest grudge matches in British boxing history as he won an epic contest at the O2 Arena. 

Both fighters came out swinging, but when Haye seemingly suffered a lower leg injury in the fifth round, the contest changed completely. 

The former heavyweight champion was unable to move forward, unable to match Bellew’s aggression and unable to land any major blows. As a result, Bellew took control of the fight. 

Bellew dominated the fight but he was unable to knock Haye out. However, Haye’s corner threw in the towel before the 11th round as the Hayemaker struggled to make the 10 count after being forced through the ropes. 

Bellew emerged victorious from one of the biggest grudge matches in British boxing history

Bellew beat David Haye after the Hayemaker sustained an injury that eventually saw the towel thrown in

Tyson Fury vs Dillian Whyte 

Location: London, Wembley Stadium 

Attendance: 94,000

Purse: £30.6m

Pay-per-view sales: 40,000

Tickets for the all-British clash between Fury and Dillian Whyte sold out in just 90 minutes as UK fans were eager to witness the events unfold at Wembley Stadium.

Frank Warren managed to flog an initial 89,000 tickets in an hour and a half before revealing the capacity for the blockbuster bout would be increased to 94,000. 

As a result, Fury vs Whyte registered a new attendance record for a sporting fixture at Wembley – surpassing the 90,000 set by Anthony Joshua vs Wladimir Klitschko back in 2017. 

However, pay-per-view sales flopped for Fury’s showdown with Whyte. Unofficial figures have said that PPV sales did not exceed 100,000 – reaching just 40,000 buys in total. 

Nevertheless, Fury managed to retain his world heavyweight title after knocking Whyte out with a brutal uppercut that thudded off the challenger’s chin and sent him tumbling to the canvas. 

Tickets for the all-British clash between Fury and Dillian Whyte sold out in just 90 minutes

Fury retained his world heavyweight title in front of a record British crowd of 94,000 fans

Anthony Joshua vs Dillian Whyte 

Location: London, O2 Arena 

Attendance: 18,000 

Pay-per-view sales: 400,000 

Joshua knocked out fellow English heavyweight boxer Dillian Whyte at the O2 Arena in December 2015. The pair had been rivals since their early amateur days and decided to square off in the pro ranks. 

AJ emerged victorious in front of 18,000 fans to claim the vacant British title and keep his then-unbeaten record intact. However, Whyte was furious with his performance and has been waiting to fight AJ in a rematch ever since. 

Joshua knocked out fellow English heavyweight boxer Dillian Whyte in December 2015




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