Heavyweight rivals Tyson Fury and Anthony Joshua both won warm-up fights over the weekend ahead of facing off against one another later in the year.

It was something of a surreal few days for both, with Fury stopping Mariusz Wach at the Max Muay Thai Stadium in Thailand in front of just 1,500 spectators, and Joshua coming through what was surely the worst first round of his career to see off the potential for a huge upset and defeat Kristian Prenga in the second.

Each fight was a world away from what promises to be a blockbuster event between the pair, both in terms of the occasion and the money on the table, especially after the fight purses were revealed for this weekend’s action, where it was revealed Wach actually earned more than Fury.

Tyson Fury and Anthony Joshua Won Their Respective Fights

With a fight between Fury and Joshua having been discussed since 2016 and fallen apart many times since, the stakes were high as both men took on their final warm-up fights.

Fury was first up, taking on Wach in Thailand in a very low-key event that was not even broadcast on television or radio. Instead, it is set to be part of the third series of ‘At Home With The Furys’ airing on Netflix.

Fury still made light work of the Pole, dominating for seven rounds before Wach retired on his stool.

On Saturday night, it was Joshua’s turn, returning to the ring for the first time since the tragic death of two of his closest friends in a car crash in Nigeria back in December.

After the first round, it looked like once again the prospect of AJ v Fury was going to fall apart. Joshua hit the canvas after mere seconds of the fight getting underway. He was dropped for a second time later in the first, leaving many wondering if he was about to fall foul of another huge upset, having previously been defeated by Andy Ruiz Jr and Daniel Dubois when a big favourite.

Credit: REUTERS/Ibraheem Abu Mustafa

However, Joshua hit back in the second to defeat the Albanian by TKO. It means that at last the path is clear for a long-awaited showdown between Fury and Joshua.

What Fury and Joshua Earned For Their Victories

Mariusz Wach actually made more than Tyson Fury for their fight. Wach made a reported $750,000 for their clash, while Fury made nothing at all.

That’s because the two-time world heavyweight champion announced that he would donate his purse to the Father Ray Foundation. The charity supports orphans, children with disabilities and underprivileged kids in Thailand.

Joshua, meanwhile, was paid a huge $18 million for his fight versus Prenga, which took place at the Jeddah Superdome in Saudi Arabia. Prenga was paid $1m.

There is little doubting, though, that Joshua and Fury will both be earning far more when they take on each other.

On Joshua’s undercard in Jeddah, Berkshire’s Hamzah Sheerah was actually the second-best paid fighter on either show. The 27-year-old earned $2m for successfully defending his WBC Super Middleweight Championship against Simon Zachenhuber. The previously unbeaten German made $500,000 for his efforts.

In the second world title fight on the card, Sunderland’s Josh Kelly outpointed Ireland’s Caoimhin Agyarko to retain his IBF Light Middleweight Championship. Kelly earned $500,000 for the win, with his opponent walking away with $250,000.

With Fury and Joshua now planned to collide in November, both men can expect to make significantly more than they did this weekend when they finally step into the ring.

Vinicius Junior will not return to Real Madrid training this week, despite the club expecting him back before the end of the month, according to the Daily Mail.

The Brazilian’s absence comes as his representatives push to revive stalled talks over a new contract, with his current deal set to expire at the end of next season and Arsenal showing interest, ready to swoop if his stand-off drags on.

Jose Mourinho, meanwhile, is already laying the groundwork for his second spell in charge at the Bernabeu, with the futures of several senior players still to be resolved.

Real Madrid insist the ball is in Vinicius’ court, but resurfaced comments from the winger suggest his own priorities may not match the club’s ultimatum.

Vinicius Jr Stays Away Despite Being Expected Back

Phil Noble via Action Images via Reuters

Madrid’s stance is simple: Vinicius’ future is in his own hands. Agree to become their joint top earner alongside Kylian Mbappe, and the club will keep him. Refuse, and there are no plans for an improved offer, with the door left wide open for Arsenal to make their move.

Talks between his representatives, Roc Nation, and Los Blancos are expected to focus on Vini’s commercial value, given his current deal sees him hand over roughly half of his publicity earnings.

During the World Cup alone, he held lucrative partnerships with 15 sponsors worldwide, a number bettered only by fellow Brazilian Neymar. His value elsewhere is well established too. Al-Ahli of Saudi Arabia reportedly offered him a five-year, €1billion contract last summer.

Vinicius Junior Made His True Real Madrid Feelings Clear

Despite the standoff, Vinicius has been open before about where his heart lies. Speaking to Mundo Deportivo earlier this year, he said: “I’m not in a hurry to renew my contract. I’m tied to the club until 2027, so between now and 2027, there’s still a lot for Madrid and me to discuss.”

“Now I’m one of the captains of the team. Even at such a young age, that’s something very special that doesn’t happen often in football history. So I enjoy every moment. I want to stay here for the rest of my life, but I’m still not in a hurry to renew my contract.”

Tottenham Hotspur winger Manor Solomon’s agent has revealed that the player is seeking a permanent departure from the Premier League club this summer, after spending each of the last two seasons out on loan.

Solomon joined Spurs from Fulham on a free transfer in 2023, and has since made just six appearances for the North London club. A serious injury in his first campaign with the Lilywhites essentially put an end to his career at the Tottenham Hotspur Stadium, and he’s subsequently been shipped out to Leeds United, Villarreal and Fiorentina on temporary deals.

The Italian club declined the chance to sign the Israeli permanently for €10 million (£8.6 million), meaning the wide forward has been forced to return to N17 for pre-season.

Despite featuring in a few recent friendlies, and previously working under Roberto De Zerbi at Shakhtar Donetsk, Solomon is still expected to leave Tottenham this summer.

Manor Solomon Wants Permanent Exit From Tottenham

Despite enjoying an outstanding loan spell at Leeds in the 2024/25 season, Solomon hasn’t been able to find a permanent new home since.

He’s now back at Tottenham, where he isn’t wanted and is likely to leave, in spite of his prominence during pre-season. To the surprise of many, the 27-year-old is still under contract at Spurs for another two years.

According to his agent, Ronen Katzav, Solomon is eager to settle somewhere indefinitely this summer, rather than enduring another short stint at a club that doesn’t intend to sign him permanently.

“He needs to be given a training camp as a Tottenham player right now. The fact that he’s starting in friendlies doesn’t mean anything, a coach can start with a second or third, string lineup and then mix things up; it doesn’t mean a thing,” Katzav told Israel’s Sport 5.

“Next season? I don’t like to speculate.

“We have over a month left in the transfer window. What I will say is that the goal will be a permanent transfer, not a loan. Statistically speaking, the last week of the window is the busiest.

“He wants to be dominant and make an impact, and that probably won’t happen at Tottenham. It doesn’t seem like the right place for him, and they’ve given up on him too easily along the way. The real goal is to find a place where he can play regularly. Manor is a very high-quality player, both mentally and professionally.”

Manor Solomon is One of a Number of Players Tottenham Must Sell This Summer

Action Images via Reuters/Andrew Couldridge

Spurs have spent big money already this summer. Sandro Tonali has arrived for £100 million from Newcastle, Mateus Fernandes has joined from West Ham for £85 million, and Jan Paul van Hecke has signed for £52 million from Brighton.

More work needs to be done on De Zerbi’s squad, most notably at the top end of the pitch. That said, funds are likely to be scarce at this point, meaning sales may be required to fuel further investment.

Solomon isn’t the only player who could garner a reasonable fee. The likes of Vicario, Cristian Romero, Rodrigo Bentancur and Richarlison could all be sold for significant sums, aiding Spurs’ ambitious forward pursuits.