Nobody can stop Fury-Joshua from happening – Hearn
Boxing promoter Eddie Hearn has insisted that the proposed heavyweight fight between Tyson Fury and Anthony Joshua will go ahead, dismissing Fury's claims a day earlier that the bout was unlikely to happen. Hearn, who represents Joshua, said a contract has already been signed and that neither fighter can pull out without breaching it, adding weight to what has been billed as one of the biggest fights in British boxing history.
Joshua and Hearn have agreed for the fight to be staged in the United Kingdom, but Saudi organisers Sela, who hold separate contracts with both fighters, are pushing to move it to the United States, with New York's Madison Square Garden understood to be their preferred venue to suit American audiences for the Netflix broadcast. Hearn said his side would rather the fight stayed in Britain but has told Sela the terms under which a move to the US could be considered. The fight had been expected to take place in November, though a date has yet to be confirmed.
- Hearn says Fury-Joshua fight is contractually locked in and will happen
- Dispute continues over venue: UK favoured by Joshua camp, US by Sela
- Fight expected in November, broadcast on Netflix, date still unconfirmed
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Boxing fans have been eagerly awaiting a fight between Tyson Fury and Anthony Joshua, two of Britain's biggest heavyweight boxers, for years, and it has now reportedly been agreed for later this year. Eddie Hearn is a leading boxing promoter who represents Joshua, and he has long worked to bring the pair together in the ring after previous attempts to arrange the bout fell through.
A key sticking point is where the fight will be held. Joshua's side wants it staged in the UK, but Saudi Arabian organisers Sela, who separately have contracts with both fighters, favour holding it in the United States, likely at Madison Square Garden in New York, partly because the bout is being broadcast on Netflix to an American audience. No date or venue has yet been confirmed.
The fight matters because it would pit two of the sport's most recognisable names against each other, something many fans have wanted for a long time. It also reflects the growing influence of Saudi-backed organisers in boxing, who increasingly hold sway over where and how major fights take place.