Dana White casts doubt on Fury–Joshua fight amid promoter dispute

Dana White said on Saturday that he did not know whether Tyson Fury’s fight with Anthony Joshua would go ahead, just days after the heavyweights’ 11 December meeting at Cardiff’s Principality Stadium was announced. Asked about a London news conference scheduled for Wednesday, the UFC president and Zuffa Boxing chief said: “I have no idea.” [1]

The announcement presented the Netflix-broadcast fight as involving Turki Alalshikh’s The Ring and White, but did not name Joshua’s longtime promoter Eddie Hearn or Fury’s longtime promoter Frank Warren. Hearn subsequently said Joshua’s contract barred White and sports entertainment company TKO from having a promotional role. He claimed Netflix had not known about the restriction and said alleged breaches of the agreement needed resolving. White, who is named among those promoting the fight, blamed Hearn for hindering it. [1]

Fury has said a similar restriction was removed from his own contract because he wanted White involved. He also accused Joshua and Hearn of trying to withdraw, though Joshua had made no announcement that he intended to pull out. [1]