The Tyson Fury and Anthony Joshua fight has been plunged into uncertainty after Fury claimed the £150 million Cardiff blockbuster could be called off.
Just over 24 hours after the bout was confirmed, Fury said on social media that a dispute between Joshua’s promoter, Eddie Hearn, and UFC chief Dana White had put the December contest at risk.
White, who runs Zuffa Boxing alongside Saudi boxing adviser Turki Al-Sheikh, has been presented as the main promoter of the heavyweight clash. He had also pushed for the event to be staged in New York.
Hearn, however, has claimed that Joshua’s contract prevents White from being involved in the promotion. The disagreement intensified after Hearn objected to White attending the planned pre-fight press conference in London on September 30.
In an expletive-laden video, Fury accused Hearn of trying to derail the bout and said Joshua was also seeking to withdraw. “Anthony Joshua and Eddie Hearn are trying to pull out of this fight,” he said.
Fury added that Hearn was “making up a million different things” and threatening that the fight would not go ahead. He also directed a series of insults at Joshua, challenging him to proceed with the contest in front of Fury’s supporters in Wales.
The former world champion later claimed that Al-Sheikh was looking for an alternative opponent who could fight him “at the drop of a hat”. His comments followed Hearn’s criticism of White after the fight announcement.
Al-Sheikh appeared to back White in the dispute by posting a photograph of the American smoking a cigar on social media.
Fury and Joshua had been expected to earn about £75 million each from what was billed as one of the biggest fights to be held on British soil. Hearn had successfully pushed for the event to be moved from New York to Cardiff after initially favouring Wembley Stadium.
The Principality Stadium’s roof and the Welsh Government’s willingness to accommodate a later finish helped secure Cardiff as the venue. The ring walks were expected at about 2am to suit the American audience, with Netflix due to broadcast the contest if it goes ahead.
The fight is scheduled for Friday December 11, with the promotional dispute now threatening to overshadow the planned press conference next week.
