Eddie Hearn Blames Dana White for Delays in Fury-Joshua Fight, Insists on UK Venue
Promoter Eddie Hearn says negotiations for a Tyson Fury-Anthony Joshua bout are stalled because UFC chief Dana White is pushing for a U.S. location, while Joshua wants the fight in Britain.
Promoter Eddie Hearn said on iFL TV that the planned heavyweight clash between Tyson Fury and Anthony Joshua will not move forward in the United States because the fighters have signed a contract to hold the bout in the United Kingdom. He claimed that UFC president Dana White has intervened, attempting to shift the fight to America and pressuring the British promoter Sela to break the existing agreement.
"Dana White says we are the only one upsetting this fight," Hearn said, adding that White is trying to “throw a little bit of money” at the fighters to change the venue.
Hearn said Joshua has refused higher offers to fight in the U.S., emphasizing the boxer’s desire to protect British boxing and honor the original contract. He indicated that discussions are ongoing with Netflix and Saudi promoter Turki Al-Alshikh, but any official announcement will come from Al-Alshikh.
Both Fury and Joshua recently recorded victories, keeping the matchup on the agenda after earlier reports suggested a 2026 timeframe. No date or venue has been confirmed, and Hearn noted that public sentiment in the UK appears to favor a domestic fight, with potential venues including Cardiff’s Principality Stadium and London’s Wembley Stadium.