Saudi boxing official Turki Alalshikh made an unusual jab at pop singer Dua Lipa during the press conference for the Tyson Fury versus Anthony Joshua fight. The two fighters met at Olympia London on Wednesday to promote their December 11 showdown at the Principality Stadium in Cardiff, announced just six days prior.
As the financier of the bout, Alalshikh received much praise despite the generally subdued event. However, he surprised many when he explained why the fight was held in the UK rather than New York, where Madison Square Garden was initially expected to host it. The fight’s start time, still unconfirmed, is expected to be in the early morning to suit American viewers, a factor that eliminated London as a venue and apparently prevented Dua Lipa from performing, since she reportedly dislikes boxing—and perhaps Alalshikh himself. He stated, “To be honest, I knew London wouldn’t grant me the stadium until 2 a.m., and I know Dua Lipa won’t perform because she doesn’t like boxing, and maybe she doesn’t like me…”
Alalshikh also disclosed that staging the fight in the UK cost him $70 million in lost revenue, a major hurdle in finalizing the deal. He expressed his fondness for British fans and his commitment to delivering for them despite the financial hit, adding, “Put yourself in my shoes—losing $70 million is huge, but I had two reasons: London wouldn’t give me a stadium at the right time, whereas Wales did. It’s still the UK, and it’s the hometown of Ryan Giggs, so let’s go for it.”
On the other hand, Eddie Hearn, Joshua’s promoter, expanded on his previous comments about the large financial sacrifice AJ made to keep the fight in the UK, revealing that Joshua gave up at least $10 million. Hearn said, “Suddenly everyone wanted the fight in the UK. AJ started feeling the pressure, and I had to call him. He’s the kind of guy who defers to me, but I told him, ‘No, it’s your money.’ He had to forgo eight-figure sums to have the fight here. When I asked for his take, he said, ‘Let’s do it in the UK.’”
Fan Take: This showdown is a huge win for boxing fans, illustrating fighters’ and promoters’ willingness to make major financial sacrifices to keep fights accessible to their core audiences. It also highlights the growing global appeal of the sport, balancing between lucrative markets and fan engagement in traditional boxing strongholds like the UK.
Source: sports.yahoo.com
