Tyson Fury has expressed concern that his highly anticipated all-British heavyweight showdown against Anthony Joshua scheduled for December might be at risk due to a dispute between their promoters. The fight, set to take place at Cardiff’s Principality Stadium on December 11 and streamed on Netflix, was announced recently after years of negotiations that failed to materialize.
The event is organized through a collaboration between Saudi boxing figure Turki Alalshikh’s The Ring and UFC president Dana White, but this partnership has sparked conflict. Eddie Hearn, Joshua’s promoter, has clashed with White in recent months and argues that White’s involvement violates their contractual agreement. Fury believes Hearn’s unwillingness to work alongside White is threatening the fight’s future.
On Instagram, Fury criticized Hearn and Joshua, stating, “Anthony Joshua and Eddie Hearn are trying to back out of this fight, saying they won’t compete now.” He accused Hearn’s ego of complicating matters and blamed him for potentially costing what Fury calls the biggest boxing fight in history. Fury added that Turki Alalshikh is searching for alternative fighters who are willing to compete without hesitation.
Hearn, who has had a public dispute with Dana White since the launch of Zuffa Boxing earlier this year, told IFL TV that White’s participation in promoting the bout “ain’t happening,” despite Netflix’s official announcement suggesting otherwise. “Dana White cannot be part of this fight’s promotion. Netflix missed that memo — communication has clearly broken down,” Hearn said. However, he reassured that his company will honor their contracts, comparing the situation to a recent legal victory in the UK.
Frank Warren, Fury’s promoter, credited White’s influence as essential in securing the Netflix deal once the fight was confirmed. Fury’s recent social media comments had hinted that Joshua might be pulling out and even suggested pursuing a trilogy fight with Oleksandr Usyk instead. So far, neither Hearn nor Warren responded officially to the Netflix announcement.
This promoter dispute adds another layer to a saga that has frustrated boxing fans for years. The two fighters’ camps initially agreed to a two-fight deal in 2020, signed contracts for an undisputed title fight in 2021, but Deontay Wilder’s arbitration forced Fury into a trilogy with him. In 2022, Joshua agreed to a 60-40 split to face Fury, but that deal also collapsed. Earlier this year, contracts were finally signed, with the fight date and venue just confirmed.
The BBC has reached out to all parties involved, including Matchroom, Queensberry Promotions, The Ring, and Netflix, for comment.
Fan Take: This ongoing promoter clash threatens to rob boxing fans of a historic showdown between two heavyweight giants, highlighting how behind-the-scenes politics can stall even the most eagerly awaited fights. Resolving this conflict is crucial—not just for this event—but for the future credibility and growth of the heavyweight division and the sport as a whole.
Source: sports.yahoo.com
