The long-awaited fight between Tyson Fury and Anthony Joshua has hit a fresh setback just days after being confirmed. The bout, scheduled for December 11 at Cardiff's Principality Stadium, was announced as a collaboration between Saudi boxing powerbroker Turki Alalshikh's The Ring and UFC president Dana White, with Netflix broadcasting the event. However, Joshua's promoter, Eddie Hearn, has been at odds with White for months, citing a contractual breach.
The dispute centers on White's involvement in the promotion, which Hearn claims breaches their contract. Fury has accused Hearn and Joshua of trying to pull out of the fight over the dispute, posting on Instagram that they are "saying they are not going to fight now." Fury attributed the issue to Hearn's ego, stating that he is "making up a million different things and threatening that we are not going to fight."
Hearn has been publicly feuding with White since the launch of Zuffa Boxing earlier this year, a dispute that has also involved White signing former Matchroom fighter, Conor Benn. In an interview with IFL TV, Hearn insisted that White cannot be part of the promotion, stating that Netflix clearly did not get the memo. Hearn expressed his annoyance but remained confident, citing his previous success in standing by contracts.
Fury's promoter, Frank Warren, said White had been instrumental in securing the Netflix deal after the fight was confirmed. Neither Hearn nor Warren issued an official statement in Netflix's release announcing the bout. A press conference is reportedly scheduled for Wednesday in London, with both camps expected to want the dispute resolved quickly, given the fewer than 11 weeks left before the scheduled fight.
The fight has survived several false starts since 2020, when the two camps first agreed to a two-fight deal. Contracts for an undisputed heavyweight contest were signed in 2021, only for Deontay Wilder's arbitration case to force Fury into a third fight with the American. A 2022 attempt, in which Joshua accepted a 60-40 financial split, also collapsed before Fury and Joshua finally signed contracts for the Cardiff bout earlier this year.
The involvement of high-profile figures has added to the complexity of the situation. Turki Alalshikh's role in brokering the deal has been significant, and his influence may be crucial in resolving the current dispute. The boxing community is eagerly awaiting a resolution, given the magnitude of the event.
The promoters and fighters are expected to address the media on Wednesday, potentially shedding more light on the situation and possible resolutions. With the fight's significance and the number of stakeholders involved, finding a solution will be crucial to avoid further postponements or cancellations.
Key points
- The dispute between Eddie Hearn and Dana White over the promotion of the fight has thrown the bout into doubt.
- The fight between Tyson Fury and Anthony Joshua is scheduled for December 11 at Cardiff's Principality Stadium.
- The involvement of UFC president Dana White has been a point of contention, with Hearn claiming it breaches their contract.
