Tyson Fury contract has no U.K. clause, but Hearn says Zuffa out

Tyson Fury's signed contract to fight Anthony Joshua contains no requirement that the bout happen in the U.K., BoxingScene has learned, though that detail may not prevent the superfight from landing at a British stadium as expected.

Joshua promoter Eddie Hearn said his fighter's deal is different. "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 told BoxingScene on Friday.

Dana White and Zuffa barred from promotional role despite public claims

Hearn said both fighters have signed agreements naming him and Frank Warren as promoters of record and specifically excluding Zuffa Boxing — the Saudi-backed upstart fronted by UFC chief Dana White — from any involvement. White told reporters last week he would promote the bout and hinted at a possible U.S. venue, contradicting the contractual reality. Hearn speculated that Las Vegas's Allegiant Stadium could be a target, while two boxing officials told BoxingScene that Saudi financier Turki Alalshikh floated SoFi Stadium in Los Angeles as an option.

"Specifically in the contract it says Dana White, Zuffa cannot have any promotional involvement in the show," Hearn said. "Dana doesn't know about the contract for the show that we signed and negotiated." He added that Alalshikh, who owns 60 percent of Zuffa Boxing and funds the Joshua-Fury fight through his Saudi events firm Sela, is not free to designate Zuffa as the promoter regardless of what White says publicly.

Hearn said that while Alalshikh could pursue a venue outside the U.K., doing so would require fresh negotiation and Joshua's approval. "We signed up for the bout with the importance of it being in the U.K., and because that's where we expect the fight to happen," Hearn said. Joshua faces Kristian Prenga on July 25 while Fury meets his next tune-up opponent August 1 in Dublin before the two heavyweights collide later this year.

Source: boxingscene.com