Tyson Fury is forcing the issue on Anthony Joshua. 

The unretired WBC heavyweight champion of the world took to social media Tuesday to reveal the financial compensation he has in mind for his potential British counterpart. 

“I’m being bombarded with messages on how much am I going to pay AJ, and everyone’s saying 80/20, 70/30, 75/25,” said Fury. “The actual answer is I’ve offered him 60/40. 40% of this amazing fight because I want this fight to happen. He doesn’t have any excuses now not to take it. He can’t say I’ve lowballed him and offered him 20% or 30%. I’ve offered the people 40%. Take it or leave it. Let us know.”

Fury has been pressing Joshua in recent days after unified heavyweight titlist and two-time Joshua conqueror Oleksandr Usyk said he would prefer to fight Fury next year in an undisputed bout. 

Fury wants to get back in the ring before 2022 is over, and he’s now switching his frequently-changing stance to Joshua. 

Joshua responded to Fury’s challenge, stating on social media: “I don’t do the online discussions just for clout, so if you’re really about it shout 

258 Management. I’ll be ready in December.”

Fury and Joshua have previously put pen to paper, agreeing to a two-fight deal in March 2021.

Joshua, however, lost to Usyk in Sept. 2021 and spoiled plans. Fury held his own end of the stick by knocking out Deontay Wilder in an October trilogy fight in what was also a 60-40 purse split in favor of “The Gypsy King.” 

Fury co-promoter Frank Warren doubled down on Fury's comments Tuesday, telling TalkSport: “We’re sending a written offer across today to them. My son George spoke with [Matchroom Boxing head] Eddie Hearn yesterday. It’s us who have made the approach to give AJ a great opportunity to get himself back into the top level against the world champion Tyson. He’s willing to make that voluntary defense, so we’ll send the offer across today and then they’ll have to look at it and decide whether they wanna grab this with both hands.

“Tyson is being extremely fair and if and when these come out, if they wanna publicize them, you’ll all be shocked. For [Joshua] to get himself back into a position either mandatory or to challenge for a world title is gonna take him a lot of time, so he should grab this with both hands in my opinion.

“But to [Joshua’s] credit, he has come out saying that he’s up for it. I’m not badmouthing them or the other side, all we’re interested in doing is making this fight.”

Hearn has revealed that Joshua plans on fighting again in December with or without Fury, and that staging the fight with Fury is the priority. 

Manouk Akopyan is a sports journalist, writer and broadcast reporter. He’s also a member of the Boxing Writers Association of America and MMA Journalists Association. He can be reached on Twitter, Instagram, LinkedIn and YouTube at @ManoukAkopyan, via email at manouk[dot]akopyan[at]gmail.com or on www.ManoukAkopyan.com.