Ed Sheeran has been offered a potential £1million payday to fight his estranged cousin Jethro in a six-round celebrity boxing match as their increasingly bitter family feud spills further into public view.
Jethro Sheeran, 44, who performs under the name Alonestar, has said he is willing to face his 35-year-old superstar cousin following weeks of public attacks linked to the controversy surrounding Macklemore’s removal from Sheeran’s Loop Tour.
Promoter Abi McCabe, founder of Speed Star Promotions, wants to stage the proposed bout at London’s 7,500-capacity Copper Box Arena around Valentine’s Day next year.
The fight would consist of six three-minute rounds, with organisers suggesting Sheeran could earn more than £1million depending on ticket sales, sponsorship and broadcasting arrangements.
Jethro has already accepted the idea in principle.
“I’m well up for fighting Ed,” he said.
“I am happy to climb in the ring with Ed to try and settle our differences.
“Many boxers have a bruising match but hug at the end whoever wins. So you never know.”
Jethro said he had already spoken to a trainer about preparing for the proposed bout, provided appropriate safety measures were put in place.
“As far as I’m concerned, let’s get it on,” he added.
There is currently no indication that Sheeran has accepted the challenge or intends to take part.
McCabe believes the deteriorating relationship between the cousins could generate significant interest in a celebrity boxing event.
“Boxing is much more than two people in a ring fighting,” she said.
“There is always a story behind the participants, be it rivalry, jealousy or general dislike.”
She said the pair were once close and suggested a fight could potentially provide a way of drawing a line under their dispute.
“A boxing match would be the perfect chance to fight it out once and for all and maybe move on from a family feud,” McCabe said.
“Ed could easily make more than £1million from this and even more depending on ticket sales and sponsorship.”
She added: “We think there would be huge global interest in the boxing match. Jethro is up for it, we just need Ed to show his willingness.”
The extraordinary challenge is the latest chapter in a family relationship that has deteriorated over several years and erupted publicly again during the controversy surrounding Macklemore.
Jethro and Ed collaborated before the latter became one of the biggest recording artists in the world.
They recorded the track Raise Em Up in 2010, and the song later featured in the 2013 British film All Stars.
Contrary to some accounts of the feud, their major public dispute over the song did not begin in 2014.
It emerged in 2024 after Warner Music objected to artwork being used for versions of Raise Em Up that included Ed’s name and image.
Jethro had released numerous mixes of the song on Spotify and said he was shocked when Warner Music demanded changes to the artwork.
The label represented Ed, but Jethro subsequently directed some of his anger personally towards his cousin.
He later made further allegations concerning music the pair had recorded together and their relationship behind the scenes.
The dispute dramatically resurfaced last month following Macklemore’s departure from Sheeran’s US Loop Tour.
Macklemore had appeared as a support act at Sheeran’s MetLife Stadium concerts in New Jersey in early September.
During his performances, the rapper made pro-Palestinian comments and criticised Israeli government actions in Gaza and the West Bank.
His appearances generated objections from some venue operators and other organisations.
Macklemore was subsequently removed from the remaining tour dates.
Sheeran publicly insisted the decision was not his.
“Macklemore coming off tour was the promoter’s decision, it was not mine,” Sheeran said.
He explained that Macklemore’s touring contract was with the promoter rather than directly with him.
Sheeran also said venues scheduled to host upcoming concerts had warned that shows could be pulled if Macklemore remained on the bill.
He said he spent days speaking to venues, promoters and activists in an effort to reach a compromise but was unable to do so.
“I spoke with the venues at length all week to try and build a bridge,” Sheeran said.
He added that he had been involved in talks seeking “a mutual resolution for all” but that the decision of the venues and promoter was ultimately final.
The fallout nevertheless escalated.
Several other supporting acts withdrew from Sheeran’s tour in solidarity with Macklemore, including Finneas, Lukas Graham and Aaron Rowe.
Jethro then entered the row with a series of highly personal attacks against his cousin.
He publicly described Ed as a “coward” and accused him of being responsible for Macklemore’s removal despite Ed’s denial.
In a subsequent interview with Piers Morgan, Jethro acknowledged that his claim about Ed personally removing Macklemore represented his own belief rather than something he could prove.
“Seeing what he did to Macklemore, I believe that he kicked him off that show,” Jethro said.
He went considerably further when discussing their personal relationship, describing his cousin as a “snake” and revisiting allegations surrounding their previous musical collaborations.
Jethro also rejected suggestions that jealousy over Ed’s extraordinary commercial success was behind his criticism.
“We were pretty close,” he said during the interview.
“But early on, I saw the snake in him.”
Ed has not publicly responded in detail to the personal allegations made by his cousin.
His public comments surrounding the wider tour controversy have instead focused on Macklemore’s removal and his own approach to political issues.
Sheeran said he was “appalled” by the Israeli-Palestinian conflict and described the suffering as a human tragedy, while explaining that he generally does not use his concerts as political platforms.
“I have always used my platform and music to bring people from all backgrounds and cultures together and this won’t ever change,” he said.
The proposed boxing match would turn what has so far been a war of words into an altogether more physical confrontation.
Jethro has even suggested former undefeated world champion Joe Calzaghe, a long-time friend, could become involved in his preparations if the bout goes ahead.
Calzaghe retired unbeaten after winning all 46 of his professional fights and is widely regarded as one of Britain’s greatest boxers.
No formal confirmation has been given that Calzaghe has agreed to train Jethro for the proposed event.
McCabe nevertheless believes both cousins could prepare safely for the six-round contest.
“Ed is a fan of boxing and he’s in great shape,” she said. “It wouldn’t take much to get him trained and ready for a boxing match.”
Plans remain at the proposal stage.
Details including broadcasting arrangements have not been finalised, with organisers considering either a pay-per-view broadcast or an online livestream depending on sponsorship.
Most importantly, Sheeran has yet to say he will fight.
For now, the £1million challenge remains an offer rather than a confirmed bout.
Jethro, however, has made his position clear.
After years of arguments over music, allegations about their relationship and the latest dispute triggered by the Macklemore controversy, he says he is ready to meet his cousin in the ring.
