Fury-Joshua fight locked to U.K., Hearn says Zuffa out

Anthony Joshua's contract for the long-awaited Tyson Fury superfight contains an exclusive U.K. venue requirement, according to promoter Eddie Hearn, who told reporters that Zuffa Boxing and Dana White are contractually barred from involvement regardless of White's public claims.

Fury's signed deal does not include a U.K. venue stipulation, BoxingScene has learned, though Hearn stressed that Joshua's contract leaves no room for flexibility. "I don't know what [Fury's contract] says about the venue. I just know what ours says: That, exclusively, the fight must take place in the U.K.," Hearn said Friday at Desert Diamond Arena.

Zuffa Boxing barred despite Alalshikh ownership stake

Both contracts designate Hearn and Frank Warren as promoters of record and specifically exclude Zuffa Boxing from promotional duties, per Hearn. White told reporters last week he will promote the bout and suggested a venue outside Britain remains possible. Hearn said he has heard speculation about Allegiant Stadium in Las Vegas, while two boxing officials told BoxingScene that Saudi financier Turki Alalshikh floated SoFi Stadium in Los Angeles as a candidate site.

Alalshikh owns a 60 percent stake in Zuffa Boxing but cannot unilaterally change the promotional structure, Hearn said. "Turki doesn't have to take over the fight. Turki is the fight," he said. "But specifically in the contract it says Dana White, Zuffa cannot have any promotional involvement in the show."

Joshua faces Kristian Prenga on July 25 in a tune-up before the Fury clash. Fury meets an opponent August 1 in Dublin under the same two-fight arrangement with Alalshikh and Sela, Saudi Arabia's events planning body.

Source: boxingscene.com