Eddie Hearn: Fury-Joshua must stay in U.K., Zuffa locked out

Anthony Joshua's contract for his upcoming superfight with Tyson Fury requires the bout to take place in the U.K., Matchroom promoter Eddie Hearn confirmed to BoxingScene, even though Fury's own deal reportedly contains no such geographic restriction.

Both fighters have signed separate agreements with Saudi financier Turki Alalshikh for tune-up bouts followed by their blockbuster clash. Joshua faces Kristian Prenga on July 25, while Fury meets an opponent August 1 in Dublin. According to Hearn, those contracts name himself and Frank Warren as the promoters and explicitly exclude Zuffa Boxing from any involvement, despite UFC chief Dana White's public assertions to the contrary.

Zuffa Boxing shut out despite White's claims

White told reporters last week that he would be promoting the fight and suggested it might leave the U.K. for a U.S. venue. Hearn dismissed that scenario. "I don't know what [Fury's contract] says about the venue," he said. "I just know what ours says: That, exclusively, the fight must take place in the U.K."

Hearn speculated that Las Vegas' Allegiant Stadium could be a target floated by Zuffa, while two boxing officials told BoxingScene that Alalshikh has proposed SoFi Stadium in Los Angeles as a possible venue. Alalshikh owns 60 per cent of Zuffa Boxing, the new promotional outfit launched by White and WWE president Nick Khan.

The wiggle room in Fury's contract does not mean the fight will abandon the U.K., but it does suggest some details remain unfinished ahead of an expected late-2025 date.

Source: boxingscene.com