The ongoing promoter battle over the highly anticipated heavyweight fight between Anthony Joshua and Tyson Fury continues to escalate, with Eddie Hearn delivering a scathing critique of Dana White's involvement. Hearn's latest statement suggests a power play within the boxing world, as he implies that Turki Alalshikh, the chairman of Matchroom Boxing, effectively 'slapped Dana White's bum' for his comments.
White's initial claim to be the promoter of the expected Fury-Joshua fight was quickly refuted by Hearn and Frank Warren. White's response, indicating his knowledge of the fight's location, only added fuel to the fire. Hearn's account of the situation reveals a behind-the-scenes negotiation, where Turki Alalshikh intervened to address White's comments, leading to the removal of posts from his press conference.
The fight itself, rumored to take place in late 2026, remains officially unannounced. However, the promoters' squabbles have become a major talking point in the boxing community. Hearn and Warren, who promote Joshua and Fury respectively, seem united in their effort to keep White out of the loop. This three-way battle among promoters has become a spectacle, with each side vying for control of the fight's promotion.
Frank Warren, in particular, has made a strong case that Zuffa Boxing, Dana White's promotional company, should not be involved in Fury's fights. This legal stipulation in Fury's contract adds another layer of complexity to the ongoing promoter dispute. White, on the other hand, has not yet promoted a fight involving either Joshua or Fury, with his only major event not tied to Zuffa Boxing being the Canelo Alvarez-Terence Crawford match in September 2025.
The Fury-Joshua fight, if it materializes, promises to be a blockbuster event, potentially one of the biggest boxing matches of the year. As the promoters continue to spar over control of the fight, the anticipation and drama surrounding the match only intensify. The outcome of this promoter battle will undoubtedly shape the future of the fight and the boxing industry as a whole.
