Tyson Fury Claims Anthony Joshua Fight is Off, Citing Promoter Dispute
The highly anticipated £150 million boxing match faces uncertainty just over 24 hours after its official confirmation, with Fury blaming promoter Eddie Hearn and a dispute involving UFC's Dana White.
The heavyweight clash between Tyson Fury and Anthony Joshua, slated for a £150 million mega-fight in Cardiff, has been thrown into chaos, according to Fury himself. Just over 24 hours after the bout was officially confirmed, Fury took to Instagram to announce that the fight is now in jeopardy.
Fury, in a video posted on social media, claimed the fight's cancellation is due to a dispute between Joshua's promoter, Eddie Hearn, and UFC president Dana White. Fury alleged that Hearn's ego is creating issues and making excuses, threatening that Joshua's team is no longer committed to the fight. Fury also directly addressed Joshua, calling him a "coward" and urging him to "pull your finger out."
The promoter of the event, Saudi Arabia's boxing supremo Turki Al-Sheikh, who runs Zuffa Boxing alongside Dana White, had reportedly been advocating for the fight to take place in New York City. However, Hearn, representing Joshua, stated that the contract signed by his fighter stipulates White cannot be involved in the contest. This demand from Hearn, according to Fury, could be the reason for the fight unraveling.
Fury further accused Joshua of being a "body-building sausage" and making "a million excuses." He also suggested that Al-Sheikh is now seeking an alternative opponent for him on short notice.
Hearn had previously called White a "loser" and a "soppy t**" after the fight was confirmed. In a show of support for White, Al-Sheikh posted a photo of White smoking a cigar on Instagram, seemingly in response to Hearn's demands.
The pre-fight press conference for Fury and Joshua was scheduled for September 30. The fight itself was reportedly set to take place on Friday, December 11.
This is a developing story.