Tyson Fury has dramatically suggested that the much-anticipated super-fight against Anthony Joshua might be cancelled, branding his opponent a “yellow-bellied coward.” Earlier this week, an official announcement confirmed that the heavyweight showdown, dubbed the ‘Battle of Britain,’ would take place at Cardiff’s Principality Stadium on December 11, with the fight also set to be streamed live on Netflix.
However, late Friday reports from Ring Magazine journalist Mike Coppinger cast doubt over the event, citing vague “issues” that could lead to its cancellation. Coppinger mentioned possible alternatives being considered, such as Terence Crawford facing Ryan Garcia or Fury taking on unified cruiserweight champion David Benavidez instead.
Though the nature of the problems was not explicitly stated, speculation centers around Dana White, the UFC president who oversees Zuffa Boxing. Joshua’s promoter, Eddie Hearn, has reportedly demanded White’s exclusion from the fight’s promotions despite an official statement on Wednesday that affirmed cooperation between Turki Alalshikh (the fight’s financier) and White to promote the match.
In a move that escalated tensions, Fury posted a video on social media accusing Hearn and Joshua of backing out from the fight. Fury said, “Breaking news, AJ and Eddie are trying to pull out of the fight. It’s mainly down to Eddie Hearn’s ego. He’s inventing a million excuses. AJ, get your act together, you little white-flag-waving, yellow-bellied coward. Now Turki Alalshikh is finding real men who will fight at the drop of a hat. I hope you’re happy, you cowardly bastards.”
In a follow-up video, Fury appeared to confirm that the issue revolves around Dana White’s involvement. He added, “Eddie Hearn’s ego is risking the fight that boxing fans around the world have been waiting for over a decade. It’s pathetic and childish. Eddie doesn’t want someone in the building because of his personal hang-ups. Joshua, you should be ashamed. I agreed to fight in various locations for you, and if I had stuck strictly to the contract, the fight wouldn’t even have happened. But I’m a fighter—that’s the difference. You’re just cowards.”
Fury also unveiled a fight poster for a proposed match against Benavidez slated for the same day in Cardiff. Meanwhile, Turki Alalshikh shared a photo of himself and Dana White on a video call, with White casually smoking a cigar.
Fan Take: This drama underscores how much influence promoters and behind-the-scenes politics have over major fights, often at the cost of fans’ expectations. For the sport, it highlights the ongoing struggle to bring the biggest matchups to fruition, reminding us that negotiations and egos can sometimes overshadow the action inside the ring.
Source: sports.yahoo.com
